Cijin Tianhou Temple

The oldest temple in Kaohsiung, founded in 1673 on the sandbar island of Cijin by fishermen and settlers arriving from across the strait. Dedicated to Mazu, protector of seafarers, it stands near the harbour ferry pier at the head of the island's historic main street. Its aged timber halls, blackened by generations of incense, house antique statuary and inscribed plaques recording centuries of maritime devotion. As the spiritual root of the port city, it remains a focus of Mazu festivals and a first stop for ferry visitors.