Temple · West Central
Taiwan Prefecture City God Temple
臺灣府城隍廟
Photo: 阿道, CC BY-SA 4.0Taiwan's oldest official City God temple, known for a hanging abacus and a plaque that tells visitors they have finally come.
History
It was built in 1669, under the Zheng regime, as the City God temple of Chengtian Prefecture, and it took its present name under the Qing. The plaque 爾來了 ("So you've come"), written in 1937 by Liao Yu-ting, is counted among the three great plaques of old Tainan, and the large abacus facing it, given the same year by Chen Jiangshan, stands for the god's tally of each person's good and bad deeds. Road works in 1907 and 1982 took away its front plaza, the temple was rebuilt between 1997 and 1999, and it became a national monument in 2005.
Eat nearby
竹記冬菜鴨Zhu-Ji Dong Tsai Ya
A duck shop selling sliced duck since 1942 and now run by the third generation. Its four-month-old ducks come fresh from Neipu in Pingtung and are served boiled or smoked.
進福炒鱔魚專家Jin Fu Stir-Fried Eel
Jin Fu Stir-Fried Eel (進福炒鱔魚專家) on Fuqian Road has focused on wok-fried eel since 1972, serving it on its own or over yi mein noodles.
永記虱目魚丸Yung Chi Milkfish Balls
Milkfish ball shop on Kaishan Road (開山路) with more than 80 years of history. Chou's Shrimp Rolls (周氏蝦捲) took it over after a closure in late 2020, kept the Yung Chi name and staff, and reopened it in 2021.
友誠蝦仁肉圓You Cheng Shrimp Bawan
Steamed shrimp ba-wan beside Magong Temple on Kaishan Road, opened by a granddaughter of Su Song, who began selling them at Kangle Market in 1950. She adjusted the family sauce.
三好一公道當歸鴨San Hao Yi Kung Tao Angelica Duck
Angelica duck shop that began around 1949 as a stall at the Dongmen roundabout and moved to Fuqian Road in the 1960s. The second generation runs it, with a short menu.
保哥黑輪Pao Ko Oden
A bamboo-walled oden shop in a lane in the Confucius Temple area. The story goes that the owner changed trades after his printing works burned down. Diners tick their own order slip.