The Lukang New Ancestral Palace, also known as the Tianhou Temple, was constructed in the 53rd year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign (1788) under the imperial decree of the Qianlong Emperor, by the nobleman Fuk’anggan
To distinguish it from the Mazu Ancestral Temple on Meizhou Island, it was called ‘New Tianhou Temple’
However, since there was already a Tianhou Temple in Lukang, locals colloquially referred to it as ‘New Ancestral Palace’
The temple’s architectural layout emulates a palace, with two side rooms designated as the civil and military officials’ chambers for rest during incense offerings
Outside the temple once stood an imperial edict stone inscribed with ‘Civil officials dismount, Military officials dismount’, which unfortunately was destroyed by the Japanese colonial authorities and is now lost
The temple is open to the public from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM all year round
