The local elders say that, a long time ago, early settlers found an abandoned boat filled with building materials and an idol of Wangye. They chose the present site and built a temple to enshrine Wangye. Most of the original stone material that was transported across the sea for the building of the temple has now been lost after many restorations and extensions. However, there are some stone blocks and pedestals preserved at the alley entrance to the right of the temple, reminding us of the past.

Commonly called “Jinbaoli Mazu Temple,” this is Jinshan’s largest temple. It enshrines a golden-faced Mazu, and is the local religious center. It is also respectfully called the “Big Temple” by the local people. The dragon pillars erected in the mid-19th century are still in place, and the local people believe that stroking the pillars will make them rich. Because of the stroking over the years, the tongues of the dragons and the spheres have long been shiny and smooth. The General of Thousand-mile Vision (Qianliyan) and the General of Brilliant Hearing (Shunfenger) stand on both sides of Mazu, each holding a gold ingot, symbolizing the drawing and gathering of wealth and prosperity.

This temple was built in the late 19th century. Legend has it that around 1875, a ship carrying 17 businessmen and a dog capsized, and everybody drowned, except the dog. They were carried by the currents to this area, and were found by the local fishermen. Surprisingly, after being saved, the dog threw itself into the sea and drowned, an act believed by the fishermen to be “loyalty to its master.” The fishermen buried the 18 bodies together, and were said to have been able to make good catches every time they put to sea since then. Later, they built a temple to worship the “18 Deities” to show their gratitude for the blessings. This temple has long been one of the most frequently-visited temples by believers in northern Taiwan because of the legends of manifestations of the 18 deities protecting the fishermen. Many people come to this temple mainly to worship the loyal dog.
 

This temple is also called the Cave of the Eighteen Disciples of Buddha, built at Hengshan. The interior of the temple is decorated with 100 kinds of corals and more than 60,000 seashells. It enshrines Living Buddha Jigong, the Eighteen Disciples of Buddha, and Mazu. The temple attracts a large number of worshipers, and many of them come to touch the large amber ingot for good fortune.