The Princess Babao Temple, Ancestral temple in Hengchun Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan
The Princess Babao Temple is an ancestral shrine in Hengchun organized into three separate halls with altars dedicated to Wanyinggong, Princess Babao, and Tudigong. Located close to Dawan Beach, the temple structure combines traditional architectural elements with a layered devotional practice.
During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, a Dutch princess named Margaret perished near Hengchun when her ship ran aground in Kenting Bay. The temple was later established to preserve this event within local memory and spiritual practice.
Visitors at the temple participate in specific rituals that involve offering coffee and red wine at an altar where a portrait of a foreign woman is displayed. These unusual offerings reflect how a distant historical event became woven into the local spiritual life of the community.
The temple sits within the Kenting National Park boundaries and is accessible by regular local transportation from Hengchun Township. The cooler winter months offer better visiting conditions than the hot and humid summer season.
Eight artifacts from the shipwreck, including Dutch clogs and pearl necklaces, inspired the temple's alternative name of Eight Treasures Temple. These salvaged items became so central to local memory that they shaped the sanctuary's identity for centuries.
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