In 1853, a fierce fight broke out among the immigrants in Bangka. The people from Tongan County were defeated and they snatched the golden statue of Xiahai City God from the flames. They retreated to Dadaocheng and built the Xiahai City God Temple in 1859. This temple became the center of faith in Dadaocheng.
The Xiahai City God Temple is small, yet despite its vibrant incense and numerous worshippers, it has remained unchanged for over a century, with no expansion. Because the temple is located on a "chicken's nest" in Chinese feng shui, any disturbance would destroy the nest and bring unrest to the area, so believers are wary of any renovations. Inside the temple, you'll see numerous statues arranged in a staircase from top to bottom. The main niche is dedicated to the City God. In ancient times, "cheng" meant city and "huang" meant moat. Therefore, the City God was the guardian deity within the moat, overseeing the good and evil deeds of the human world and the whereabouts of ghosts in the underworld. He encouraged believers to cultivate good intentions and avoid evil.
May 13th of the lunar calendar is the birthday of the City God. On that day, believers will hold various festivals to welcome the gods and express their gratitude to the City God for his blessings. This is the most lively temple fair in Taipei City.
