Journeys in photographs and words.

A little of each town’s story

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Hsinchu City God Temple

From: An apartment in Hsinchu and the steam of the night market

The temple entrance hung with lanterns
The temple entrance hung with lanterns

A City God temple whose construction began in 1747 and was completed in 1748. It is said to be the only case in Taiwan where the City God temple was built before the government office. Food stalls crowd around the temple, and the whole area becomes a night market.

No. 75, Zhongshan Rd., North District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan

Sources: dguidedwalks.tw travel.yam.com

This moment in the journey

The night market at the City God Temple

Unlike Taipei, Hsinchu has no big night market along a street; instead, the whole area around the City God Temple, Cheng Huang Miao, becomes one. Crowds streamed beneath the temple roof. Past a stone lion, stalls stretched on, steam rising in front of their menu boards. Hands filling paper boxes, hands working a griddle, a sign for taro balls and water-chestnut cakes.

The temple was completed in 1748 and was busy with local worshippers. A gilded statue glowing in the light, a candle burning in a red bowl, a ceiling full of lanterns, rabbit lanterns among them. A mix of solemnity and festivity, quite different from a temple in Japan.

Watch this scene on YouTube4:42

Read this scene in the full journey

The roof of the City God Temple above the night market crowd
The roof of the City God Temple above the night market crowd
Food stalls stretching beyond a stone lion
Food stalls stretching beyond a stone lion
Stall signs lined up at the temple's east gate
Stall signs lined up at the temple's east gate
A stall's menu board and rising steam
A stall's menu board and rising steam
Filling a paper box at a stall with a white mound of food
Filling a paper box at a stall with a white mound of food
Hands filling a paper box at the stall
Hands filling a paper box at the stall
Cooking on a griddle
Cooking on a griddle
A stall sign for taro balls and water-chestnut cakes
A stall sign for taro balls and water-chestnut cakes