Taiwan Food Atlas

Xuejia Ciji Temple

A stronghold of Baosheng Dadi worship, with three centuries of the Shangbaijiao ancestor-veneration ceremony
📍 Tainan · Xuejia District · Ciji Road⛩️ Historic Sites & Temples🔖 Baosheng Dadi · Shangbaijiao ancestor veneration · folk ceremonies

Xuejia Ciji Temple is a Tainan temple dedicated to Baosheng Dadi, said to house a founding deity image that believer Li Sheng carried across the strait from Baijiao Village during the Zheng Chenggong era, landing at the Touqianliao ferry crossing in Xuejia. The "Shangbaijiao Ancestor Veneration Ceremony," held every year on the eleventh day of the third lunar month, draws Baosheng Dadi devotees from across Taiwan and was formally registered as a National Important Folk Custom in 2022.

The temple's founding deity image, the "Second Great Emperor," originates from the Baijiao Ciji ancestral temple in Tong'an County, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian, and is said to have been brought to Taiwan during the Zheng Chenggong era by believer Li Sheng, who landed at the Touqianliao ferry crossing in Xuejia. The annual Shangbaijiao Ancestor Veneration Ceremony, held on the eleventh day of the third lunar month, traces its distant-worship tradition back to the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns of the Qing dynasty, and was formally registered by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture as a National Important Folk Custom in 2022.

What to see at Xuejia Ciji Temple

Xuejia Ciji Temple is located in Xuejia District, Tainan, and is one of the important temples for Baosheng Dadi worship in Taiwan. The temple's history can be traced back to the Zheng era, when it is said that followers of Zheng Chenggong and Han immigrants brought a sacred image from Ciji Temple in Baijiao, Fujian, and landed on the banks of Jiangjun Creek at Touqianliao in Xuejia. This event became the origin of the later Shangbaijiao ancestor veneration ritual. The present temple buildings have been repaired and rebuilt through successive generations, retaining a Minnan-style three-bay hall layout; the woodcarving and stone decoration inside are both well executed.

The Shangbaijiao Ancestor Veneration Ceremony is held on the eleventh day of the third lunar month each year (around April in the Gregorian calendar). A grand procession of worshippers makes its way to the banks of Jiangjun Creek to venerate the ancestral temple in Baijiao, Fujian across the water. The ceremony features diverse processional troupes, including Songjiang martial arts formations, centipede floats, and other traditional performing arts. The scale is impressive and the event has been listed as an important folk activity of Tainan City. It is a significant cultural setting for understanding Han immigrant faith and the history of crossing to Taiwan.

Tips for getting the most out of your visit

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Admire the temple architectureTake time to look closely at the woodcarving, Jiaozhi pottery, and jianzhan mosaic work on the main gate hall and main hall. The temple architecture details reflect the craftsmanship of Minnan artisans. A visit on a non-ceremony weekday is quieter.
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The third lunar month ancestor veneration ceremonyThe Shangbaijiao Ancestor Veneration Ceremony on the eleventh day of the third lunar month is a grand occasion. If you can arrange your schedule to be there, witnessing the processional troupes and the ceremony is a rare folk tradition experience in Taiwan.
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Learn about the history of immigrant beliefThe temple carries historical memory of Taiwan immigrants crossing from the mainland during the Zheng era. Through the on-site introductions or by speaking with temple staff, you can deepen your understanding of how Baosheng Dadi worship spread along the Tainan coast.
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Local food in XuejiaXuejia has traditional local dishes such as milkfish congee and bowl cake (wan-gue). After paying respects at the temple, a meal in the surrounding neighborhood offers a taste of Xuejia's culinary character.

Practical information

Getting there and time needed

  • From central Tainan, driving yourself takes about 40 minutes. Head north along Provincial Highway 19 or 17 and turn into the Xuejia District roads. Public buses to Xuejia are available from Tainan but are infrequent.
  • The temple is open year-round. Visiting on ordinary days is unrestricted. Crowds are heavier during the third lunar month ancestor veneration ceremony — checking the exact ceremony date for the current year in advance is recommended.
  • Confirm opening hours with the temple's announcements before visiting, as actual hours are the authoritative source.

Nearby connections

  • A combination with Jingzijiao Tile-Pan Salt Fields in Beimen District — to enjoy the coastal salt landscape — is possible, about a 20–25 minute drive.
  • Jiangjun Fishing Harbor (about 15 minutes' drive) can extend the trip with harbor sightseeing for a coastal one-day itinerary.

Source: compiled facts and Wikipedia entry on Xuejia Ciji Temple. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which deity does Xuejia Ciji Temple enshrine?

Xuejia Ciji Temple enshrines Baosheng Dadi, with a founding image said to have come from the Baijiao Ciji ancestral temple in Fujian, carried to Taiwan by believer Li Sheng during the Zheng Chenggong era.

When is the Shangbaijiao Ancestor Veneration Ceremony held?

The ceremony is held every year on the eleventh day of the third lunar month along Jiangjun Creek at Touqianliao in Xuejia, where worshippers venerate the ancestral temple in Baijiao, Fujian, from across the water.

What cultural heritage status does the ceremony hold?

The Shangbaijiao Ancestor Veneration Ceremony was formally registered by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture as a National Important Folk Custom in 2022.

Sources

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