Lugang Mazu Temple, Mazu temple in Lukang, Taiwan

Lugang Mazu Temple, also known as Lukang Tianhou Temple, is a Mazu shrine at 430 Zhongshan Road in Lukang, Changhua County, designated a national monument. Its main hall, with a green-tiled curved roof and red, green and gold brackets, houses a sand-sculpted Mazu statue by Shi Li from the 1930s, flanked by Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er carved by Lian Yong-chuan.

The temple emerged in the early 17th century when settlers from the Chinese coastal region of Fujian brought a Mazu statue across the Taiwan Strait. The complex was partly remodeled during Japanese colonial rule and expanded with additional side pavilions after World War II.

Worshippers bring incense sticks and offerings while temple attendants distribute fortune-telling lots and give advice on personal concerns. During major festivals, the scent of burning incense fills the halls and groups of visitors bow before the altars.

The complex is open daily from early morning, and entering the main hall barefoot or with shoe covers is customary. Donations are welcome but not required, and information sheets in several languages are available at the entrance.

The temple's front hall woodwork came from Lukang's city god temple in 1933, when the Japanese began demolishing it during urban replanning. Its coffered ceiling holds sculptures of the Eight Immortals and paintings of fishing, woodcutting, planting and reading, with a blossoming lotus at the apex. The plaque above was written by Wang Lan-pei in 1830.