A compact 1859 temple on Dihua Street in Dadaocheng, packed with over 600 deities in just 152 square metres — the highest statue density in Taiwan. It’s famous nationwide for Yue Lao, the matchmaking ‘Old Man Under the Moon,’ where singles pray for love.
A compact 1859 temple on Dihua Street in Dadaocheng, packed with over 600 deities in just 152 square metres — the highest statue density in Taiwan. It’s famous nationwide for Yue Lao, the matchmaking ‘Old Man Under the Moon,’ where singles pray for love.
Updated June 20, 2026
MapVisualize where this fits in your day (and plan nearby pairings).
A few good pairings within easy reach of this spot.
Quick facts資訊
CostHoursTime neededGetting thereBest time / forGood to knowDistrictFoundedFamous forBest for
Highlights亮點Dadaocheng is one of the best areas to feel ‘old Taipei,’ and this temple is part of that texture — small, intensely active, and easy to visit respectfully in a short window. Founded in 1859, it has remained in the care of a single family to the present day, and its original structure has been remarkably preserved.
The best experience isn’t a standalone temple trip — it’s a temple moment inside a slow Dihua Street afternoon.
What makes Xia-Hai unforgettable is its density. The temple packs more than 600 deities into just 152 square metres of floor space — said to be the highest statue density of any temple in Taiwan. The principal deity is the City God (Cheng Huang), with his wife and a crowd of other gods filling every surface.
It was designated a historical monument by the Ministry of the Interior in 1985.
Xia-Hai’s real fame is romantic. It enshrines Yue Lao, the ‘Old Man Under the Moon,’ Taiwan’s most famous matchmaking deity, who is said to bind fated couples together with a red thread. Singles come from across Taiwan and abroad to petition him for a partner, leaving offerings and asking for one of the temple’s red threads to carry away.
Tradition holds that when Yue Lao’s statue is depicted standing, he is especially eager to find people a good match.
Build a Dadaocheng loop that’s about pacing: browse, sip tea, take photos, then eat. The temple’s liveliest day is the City God’s birthday, on the 13th day of the fifth lunar month — the biggest and most boisterous temple celebration in Taipei, with processions and ceremonies filling Dihua Street.
Quick answers to common planning questions.
Official pages and references for planning details.
Hand-picked next reads to make your Taipei plan smoother.
A historic area anchored by Dihua Street—tea, dry goods, traditional shops, and a slower, more photogenic side of Taipei. It’s one of the city’s oldest trading quarters, full of Qing-era and Japanese-Baroque facades that reward a slow, curious wander.
Read more →
Taipei’s oldest street, with shops dating back to around 1851—a fragrant warren of tea, herbal medicine, fabric, and dried goods set among Qing-dynasty shophouses and colonial Baroque facades.
Read more →
One of Taipei’s oldest and most food-focused night markets—a single ~400 m lane of traditional Taiwanese street food, many recipes 50+ years old. Perfect for a short, high-impact snack crawl without getting lost in endless lanes.
Read more →
A historic river port on the Tamsui in Dadaocheng—once a major trade gateway for tea, cotton, and silk, now revived for golden-hour walks, weekend river cruises, and an evening container market beside Dihua Street’s heritage texture.
Read more →
Taiwan is a tea place first. Learn how to order bubble tea with intention—and where to slow down for real tea in Taipei.
Read more →
A practical night-market playbook: what to expect, how to order, crowd strategy, and which markets fit your vibe.
Read more →Start with a simple loop: one neighborhood stroll, one iconic sight, and one night market. Taipei rewards balance.
Tip: hours, prices, and seasonal schedules can change. When something matters (like a museum ticket or a special exhibition), check the official listing before you go.