Taiwan's wealthiest Tudigong temple now operates a bank / Zinan Temple in Sheliao, Zhushan Township

Getting There: 1. Take the Taiwan Express Xitou Line to the Earthquake Museum, then transfer to a shuttle bus. 2. Take the Yuanlin Bus Zhushan to Shuili and get off at Sheliao Station. 3. Take the Taiwan Express Xitou Sun Moon Lake Line and get off at Sheliao Station.
Must-Try Foods: Recommended: Bamboo Shoot Buns and Urn-Oven Chicken.
Shopping Guide: Honey Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Braised Bamboo Shoots, and Local Fresh Vegetables.
Legend has it that the Sheliao Zinan Temple's efficaciousness stems from the discovery of a snake den during the temple's construction, making it a sacred snake den.
Zinan Temple is renowned throughout Taiwan for its wealth and fortune offerings. Like a bank, it attracts a constant stream of tourists, boosting the local business district. Every New Year's Day, the crowds who come to pray for the Money Goddess of Fortune surpass those attending the Nantou County Government's New Year's Eve Gala.
Besides its fame for wealth and fortune, praying to the Earth Goddess is also very effective for those desiring a boy. Every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Earth God holds a "Chiding Wine" (cooking wine) event. This is because those who pray for a boy would offer a rooster as a fulfillment of their wish. The rooster would then be cooked into chicken wine and shared, which is how the Zi Nan Temple tradition of "Chiding Wine" originated. This is also why Zi Nan Temple is filled with roosters and hens, symbolizing prosperity and wealth.

Of course, Zhinan Temple also boasts a famous five-star restroom, built at a cost of tens of millions of yuan. A visit here is a must-see.

Near Zi Nan Temple, there's a century-old arborvitae tree, also known as the Ferry Pillar, which holds a historical significance. The surrounding countryside offers beautiful scenery, known as the Takeshi Kaneshiro Tree at Zi Nan Temple. Cycling here and enjoying the idyllic scenery without interruption is truly relaxing.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, is the Earth God's birthday. Visit Zi Nan Temple in September to pray for prosperity and wealth in the second half of the year.

Post by 牧星人 | Oct 1, 2025