Ciyou Temple

Venerating Mazu the Sea Goddess as the primary deity, Ciyou Temple dating back to the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty serves as a center of faith among locals. The original temple was unfortunately burned down in 1983, and the current one was reconstructed two years after the fire. The temple has a flush gable rooftop, which is formed in two parts of slopes yet with both the ends of its eaves not protruding outside walls. The architecture itself is spread over six floors where a multitude of koji pottery artworks can be found on the ridges. On the columns and inner walls, exquisitely carved statues continue to tell the ancient stories of Mazu and Romance of the Three Kingdoms — the architectural and artistic significance is unarguable.

The annual “Mazu marching” falls on the 25th and 26th day of the third lunar month, and the statue of Mazu will be carried around to patrol the neighborhood. The pilgrimage marches with the Mazu deity and visit the other two temples in the area — Xiahai City God Temple and Jufu Temple. The entire ceremony is usually a lively scene, where lion dance troupes will be performing dance formations together with many other celebrations such as crawling beneath the palanquin. Every street is filled with a large congregation of local pious devotees — this is how local people show their devotion to Mazu and meanwhile bond with other residents of the neighborhood.

After burning off so many calories during the parade, feeling hungry is inevitable. But fret not, the neighboring Raohe Street Tourist Night Market will make your tummy happy again. Make sure you try the pork ribs in spices and herbal soup, pig blood curd and grilled corns.