Beigang (北港鎮) is a township that in Yunlin County, Taiwan.

Understand

Beigang is primarily known for its Chaotian Temple, one of the most prominent Temples of Mazu on Taiwan. During the Dutch era, Ponkan (笨港) was an important coastal castle.

Get in

By road

Beigang is accessible via the 1 Beigang Bus Station (嘉義客運北港站).  which services Chiayi Bus services.

Get around

See

Culture and history

• 1 Beigang Fuxing Bridge (北港溪鐵橋). A small bridge, which was severely damaged in 2006, which was constructed during the Japanese colonial period to transport materials to and from the nearby sugar factory. (updated Dec 2020)
• 2 Beigang Old Street (北港老街), Zhongshan Road. The old historic centre of the area is home to many older shop buildings and temples. (updated Dec 2020)

Temples

Chaotian Temple

• 3 Chaotian Temple (朝天宮), No. 178, Zhongshan Road, ☏ +88657832055. 04:00-00:00. A temple to the Chinese sea-goddess Mazu. Constructed in 1700, it became one of the most important Mazu temples in Taiwan and is known for its extravagant temple architecture. It is visited by more than a million pilgrims every year. (updated Dec 2020)
• 4 Wude Temple (北港武德宮), No. 330, Huasheng Rd, ☏ +88657821445. 06:00-20:00. An ornate temple complex dedicated to the god of wealth. (updated Dec 2020)
• 5 Yimin Temple (北港義民廟), No. 20號, Jingyi Street, ☏ +88657838213. 07:00-20:00. A small, but well decorated, temple building. (updated Dec 2020)

Museums

• 6 Beigang Cultural Center (北港文化中心), No. 66, Gongyuan Road, ☏ +88657832999. 09:00-17:00. The center showcases the cultural heritage of the local area. (updated Dec 2020)

Do

• Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage. A major Taoist folk event which has been held since 1863. It is usually held annually between lunar January and April in the western plains of Taiwan. After every lunar new year, the Mazu statue of Gongtian Temple at Baishatun, Tongxiao of Miaoli County, is placed in a palanquin and carried in procession to visit the Chaotian Temple. The distance covered is approximately 400 km total. (updated Dec 2020)
• Beigang International Music Festival (北港國際音樂文化藝術節). A project of the Beigang Philharmonic Association which has been held annually since 2006. Since then, the festival has grown and developed to become the biggest international music festival in Yunlin County. The festival has a series of concerts, mostly wind music (for solo, chamber music and wind band), and an educational program within the Chia-Hu Conservatory. The festival also organizes an intercultural program for musicians from different countries. (updated Dec 2020)

Parks and nature

• 1 Beigang Matsu Landscape Park (媽祖景觀公園), No. 198-1, Zhongshan Road. A small innter-city park that centres around a large statue of the goddess Mazu. (updated Dec 2020)
• 2 Beigang Water Cultural Park (北港水道頭文化園區), 1 Minsheng Road, ☏ +88657836102. A small public park which contains a number of old red-brick buildings which previously housed the water supply infrastructure for the area. (updated Dec 2020)

Eat

Night markets

• 1 Tongren Night Market (同仁夜市), Wenren Road, ☏ +886916925229. W Sa 17:00-00:00. A typical Taiwawnese-style night market featuring a variety of snack stall and shops selling a variety of small wares. (updated Dec 2020)

Go next

• Further north: Taichung
• Further south: Chiayi, and then Alishan