Eighteen Kings Temple

The Eighteen Kings Temple near Keelung City is nortable for its bronze statue of a dog. Legend has it that some time during the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911), 17 merchants and a dog died as they tried to sail from Mainland China to Taiwan. The dog, which had tried to save its masters, was buried together with the merchants. Their grave later became a shrine that is today's Eighteen Kings Temple.

Another cultural practice is associated with the Eighteen Kings Temple. Legend has it that the 17 merchants were fond of smoking, so that many worshippers come to this temple and offer cigarettes, lighting them and placing them in stands, just as they do with incense.

The Eighteen Kings Temple is a popular place of worship and is particularly busy at night, when large crowds come to make offerings of incense and food.