Ciying Palace｜Shilin District, Taipei

【慈諴宫#Mazu Temple in the Night Market】
Shilin Night Market is one of Taipei's well-known night markets. Those who visit frequently must know that there are many famous snacks and many fun and easy to visit shops. But I don't necessarily know that the "miaokou" at the center of this place is an old temple built in the Qing Dynasty-Shilin Ciyu Palace. This temple is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and has a history of 100 years. It is now classified as a Grade 3 monument. It has not only experienced the development and struggle of early Taiwanese immigrants, but also closely connected with the market, witnessing the prosperity of Shilin and its surroundings. Geographical reform.

The original name of Ci Ling Palace was Zhilan Palace, which was later renamed Ci Ling Palace. The temple was completed in the sixth year of Guangxu (1880); there was another large-scale reconstruction during the Japanese Occupation, and it has today's scale. The palace faces the north and faces the south, and the layout is a two-hall style, which is a typical southern Fujian temple style. The most special thing is that there are 3 stages in the Temple of Ci Ling, which have been preserved to this day, which are quite rare in the palace temples. In the early days when the incense was in full swing, there was a lively scene of three simultaneous plays.

The temple entrance here has been used as a market since the Qing Dynasty. The well-shaped roads planned around Tsinghua Palace as the center of Danan Road, Dabei Road, Dadong Road, and Daxi Road circle into a new market. It is said to be the first city in northern Taiwan with the concept of urban planning! At that time, because of the convenient transportation of Linhe (today's Jihe Road is the old river course of the Keelung River), hawkers from all over the world started wholesale transactions before dawn, and the following morning and night markets were very lively! Shilin has gradually become a prosperous market.

Visiting Shilin Night Market is now not only a common experience for many Taiwanese, but also one of the must-see attractions for many foreign tourists. It’s just that I never thought about it. It has been so lively since the Qing Dynasty! Next time you come to Shilin Night Market, in addition to visiting the night market, you can also come here. In addition to admiring the beauty of the architecture, you can also buy a drink and sit at the entrance of the temple to rest and enjoy. Imagine the lively atmosphere of this temple.