Yanshui Martial Temple

Yanshui Martial Temple is a shrine in Yanshui, Tainan, dedicated to the Chinese god of war and features intricate wooden carvings, painted murals, and decorated roofs spread across multiple interconnected halls. The building showcases traditional architectural details with ornamental elements throughout.

The shrine was built in 1715 and later reconstructed in 1803, marking two important moments in its long history. These periods of renewal show how the community valued and maintained the site across generations.

The temple becomes a center of firecracker displays and processions during the Lunar New Year Festival each year, drawing thousands of participants. These celebrations grew from rituals meant to protect the community from illness.

The site is most easily reached via National Freeway 1 at the Xinying exit, followed by City Highway 172 to Wumiao Road. Allow extra time when visiting during the spring firecracker festival, as crowds gather heavily at this location.

The firecracker festival here has unusual origins: the tradition started as an attempt to drive away disease outbreaks through exploding fireworks. Hundreds of tons of firecrackers are set off yearly during the celebration, making it one of the most intense firecracker experiences in the region.

GPS coordinates: 23.32390,120.26582

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:24