Penghu Mazu Temple, Mazu temple in Zhongyang Village, Taiwan
The Penghu Mazu Temple is a country-level monument in Zhongyang Village, Taiwan, built from three connected sections: a front hall, a middle hall, and a rear hall. Side structures known as guarding dragons link the sections together.
Fishermen from Fujian established the site during the 15th century in the Ming Dynasty, making it the first Mazu temple on Taiwan. Later generations expanded the structure and added new sections.
Carvings throughout the temple follow the Chaozhou tradition, with gold powder paintings framing the main altar in techniques rarely practiced today. Visitors can see examples of traditional woodwork created by artisans from coastal China.
The site on Zhengyi Street in Magong City welcomes visitors daily from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Guests should wear comfortable shoes, as they will walk through several connected areas.
Inside stands a roughly 700-year-old Mazu figure carved from a single piece of wood, originally from the Tianjin Mazu Temple and weighing around 330 pounds (150 kilograms). The statue was hand-carved and transported over generations before finding its final home here.
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