Tainan Grand Mazu Temple
Main Deities
About
Tucked into the lanes of Tainan's West Central District, the Tainan Grand Mazu Temple was the first officially built Mazu temple in Taiwan — and before that, it was the palace of the Ming prince Zhu Shugui, the Prince of Ningjing. A Mazu temple converted from a royal residence: you can imagine the stature of the place. After Shi Lang's campaign against Taiwan, the palace became a Tianfei (Heavenly Consort) Temple, and it was later raised to a Tianhou (Empress of Heaven) Temple, becoming the center of Mazu worship in Qing-dynasty Taiwan. Imperial plaques from successive emperors went up one after another, and the temple is rich in historic relics. Anyone hoping for love shouldn't miss Yue Lao, the Old Man Under the Moon, in the rear hall — he is said to help a relationship warm up, and his reputation for answering prayers is known to everyone in Tainan.
History
Around 1684, after Shi Lang's campaign against Taiwan, this palace was turned into a 'Tianfei Temple.' In 1720 it was entered into the official spring and autumn sacrificial rites, and only then renamed the 'Grand Tianhou Temple.' The ground beneath it had once been the residence of Zhu Shugui, the Ming Prince of Ningjing — and in the turn from one dynasty to the next, a prince's palace became a home for Mazu. Thanks to its place in the official rites, the building is laid out with solemn grandeur, and the gold-faced Mazu in the main hall sits dignified and commanding. The temple still holds precious Qing imperial plaques such as 'Glory Over the Seashore' (Huihuang Haishi), and it is listed as a National Monument. As for the Yue Lao in the rear hall, generation after generation of Tainan locals have thought of him first when praying for a partner — making it one of the most popular places in the old capital to ask for love.
Tainan Grand Mazu Temple
West Central District, Tainan City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 18, Ln. 227, Sec. 2, Yongfu Rd, West Central District, Tainan City
Region
West Central District, Tainan City
Plan Your Visit
- Hours
- Daily 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- When to Go
- Mazu's birthday on lunar 3/23 is the most important day; those seeking a match mostly come to pray to Yue Lao in the rear hall around Qixi (lunar 7/7) and Valentine's Day on February 14.
Checked on 2026-10-13 · Sources: Google Maps