Xinzhuang Dizang An
About
Those fierce, elaborately face-painted Guan Jiang Shou, the demon-quelling generals seen at Taiwanese temple festivals, have origins closely tied to Xinzhuang Dizang An. This temple in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, commonly known as Dazhong Temple, is dedicated to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Dizang Wang) and the civil and military Dazhong Ye. When people lose something, they often come here to pray for help finding it, and the temple is one of the most important centers of faith in the Xinzhuang area. Every year on the 1st day of the 5th lunar month comes the Great Xinzhuang Festival, the Dazhong Ye procession, whose distinctive "night patrol" rite and Guan Jiang Shou troupes make it one of the most representative temple festivals in northern Taiwan. It is worth a special trip to feel that atmosphere, solemn and festive at once.
History
Dizang An was completed in Xinzhuang during the Qianlong reign, around 1757. In its early days Xinzhuang was an important commercial port in the north, crowded with people but often struck by epidemics and natural disasters, and Dizang An became a key place for releasing the souls of the dead and praying for the town's peace. The biggest event of the year is the Dazhong Ye procession on the 1st day of the 5th lunar month; the Civil and Military Dazhong Ye Festival was registered as a cultural asset in 2010, and the origins of the Guan Jiang Shou troupes are also tied to this temple. At the end of the 7th lunar month, the temple holds a ceremony for the birthday of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
Xinzhuang Dizang An
Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 84, Zhongzheng Rd, Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City
Region
Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City
Plan Your Visit
- Hours
- Daily 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- When to Go
- The Xinzhuang Grand Worship on lunar 5/1 (the Dazhong Ye procession) is the grandest day of the year, with a secret night patrol (anfang) and Guanjiangshou troupes; a Dharma assembly for Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's birthday is also held at the end of the 7th lunar month.
Checked on 2026-10-13 · Sources: Google Maps