Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple
Main Deities
About
Tucked into Dihua Street in Taipei's Dadaocheng, Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple covers only about 46 ping (a traditional Taiwanese unit of floor area), yet its incense never dies down. Its main deity is the City God who protects the neighborhood, but what really brings young people here in lines is Yue Lao, the Old Man Under the Moon. According to the temple's own count, more than 6000 couples come back each year to thank him, which has turned this small temple into a famous place to pray for love. After you pray, don't rush off: have a cup of the temple's peace tea for a wish of safety and a happy ending.
History
In 1856, the sixth year of the Qing Xianfeng reign, a group of Tong'an people in Dadaocheng pooled their money to build this City God temple to keep their neighborhood safe. It was the era when Dadaocheng was taking off on the tea trade, and the temple naturally became the spiritual center of the Tong'an merchants. The real turning point came in 1971, when the temple began enshrining Yue Lao. Wave after wave of people seeking love poured in, and this temple of about 46 ping became one of the most popular Yue Lao temples in all of Taiwan. Every year on the 13th day of the 5th lunar month, the Taipei City God procession draws such crowds that people call it "the 13th of the 5th month, when people watch people." For a hundred years it has remained one of Taipei's three great temple festivals.
Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple
Datong District, Taipei City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 61, Dihua St. Sec. 1, Datong District, Taipei City
Region
Datong District, Taipei City
Plan Your Visit
- Hours
- Daily 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- When to Go
- Crowds peak on lunar 5/13 for Taipei's City God procession, a day known by the saying "on 5/13, people watch people." Worshippers praying to Yue Lao are also especially numerous around Qixi (lunar 7/7) and Valentine's Day on February 14.
Checked on 2026-10-13 · Sources: Google Maps