Checheng Fu'an Temple
Main Deities
About
Place gold paper at the mouth of the furnace and it is drawn in, sheet after sheet, all on its own — the 'divine cash-counting machine' furnace at Fu'an Temple in Checheng Township, Pingtung County, relies on a precisely designed air convection that leaves worshippers marveling. Checheng Fu'an Temple bills itself as the largest Earth God (Tudi Gong) temple in Taiwan, and its incense burns thick. The main deity, Fude Zhengshen (the Earth God), wears a dragon robe and an official's cap — nothing like the plain Earth God figures seen elsewhere — and legend says this is because he was honored by the Qianlong Emperor. The temple is grand and imposing, and it is the stop most worth making on the drive south toward Kenting.
History
According to the temple, Fu'an Temple was founded in 1662, first called the 'Jingsheng Pavilion,' with Fude Zhengshen as its main deity. In the Jiaqing era it was renamed 'Fu'an Miao' in memory of Fu Kang'an, and in 1951 Chen Cheng gave it the name 'Fu'an Gong.' After Taiwan's retrocession it was expanded several times, its main hall rising lofty and resplendent in gold. Fu'an Temple's best-known tradition is the New Year 'first incense': worshippers once scrambled fiercely to be first during the New Year's Eve countdown, and to prevent crowding and pushing, the temple has since changed it to a 'first incense worship' (bai touxiang). With Kenting National Park right next door, the temple has also become a popular waypoint for travelers heading south to pray for blessings.
Checheng Fu'an Temple
Checheng Township, Pingtung County
Visitor Info
Address
No. 51, Fu'an Rd, Checheng Township, Pingtung County
Region
Checheng Township, Pingtung County
Plan Your Visit
- Hours
- Daily 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- When to Go
- Offering the first incense of the New Year is Fu'an Temple's best-known tradition; the Earth God's birthday on lunar 2/2 is also an important day.
Checked on 2026-10-13 · Sources: Google Maps