Nanfangao Nantian Temple — Attraction in Su'ao Township

Similar to other community temples which are located at the fishing ports, especially for those temples which are sitting facing the fishing ports' entrances, the Temple worships Mazu [or Matzu], Goddess of the Seas, as the primary deity.

The Temple is NOT the oldest one and it was built in 1950-1956, and the Temple is famous for smuggling of religious statute or sculpture and other merchandises from China in 1987 and for the pioneer of direct religious boating between China and Taiwan in 1989.

Unlike most of other Mazu statutes in Taiwan Mazu temples, Mazu statutes in the 1st floor of the Nanfangao Nantian Temple are mainly created in Taiwan, while Mazu statutes at the top floor, 3rd floor, and outside stone Mazu sculptures are crafted in China in early 1990s. The Mazu statutes on the 2nd floor of the Temple are all made of Jade, while the statute of the Mazu on the 3rd floor is made of Gold.

The Temple is popular for the worshippers and tour visitors, but it is also popular as the center or focus point for other visiting or exchange temples, which also worship Mazu, in other counties of Taiwan. In general, those other Mazu temples which brought their Mazu statutes to have exchange ceremony at the Temple would post a long Yellow sign on the left side of Temple's entrance.

The Temple provides free worship material and is open to the public free.

Visitors can enjoy quality seafood at nearby various restaurants at the bargain price, Also, there are numerous gift shops selling marine products, including mackerel, tuna fish cans which are made by a few large local...

Very beautiful temple where the Taiwanese worship the Goddess of the Sea, 妈祖。 I am super amazed by the culture and the beautiful structure of the temple. Especially the Gold Mazhu and the Jade Mazhu, super beautiful and extremely rare. Facing the Jetty that house many fishing boats, the people believed that their Mazhu would protect them and ensure they catch will...

南天宮媽祖在南方澳也是討海人信仰，香火鼎盛，超多遊覽車進香團參拜，媽祖特別大尊高198公分寬69公分，南方澳漁港底端的南天宮媽祖廟，是建於日據時代，民國40年時曾重建。並於民國79年加以擴建，同時請來一尊金身媽祖神像，此神像由遍佈全台的媽祖信眾先後捐獻，以當時市值約八千萬元，總重超過200公斤的純金、動用了二十幾位師傅，完成了一尊重達兩百多公斤的金媽祖，打響名號，堪稱全世界全金鑄塑最大之金身媽祖。玉媽祖則是由一顆巨型玉原石雕琢而成，重達二十餘噸重。而五尊湄洲媽祖的偷渡舉動更是轟動國際，名震遐邇，為台灣東岸香火最盛的媽祖廟，2樓玉媽祖3樓金媽祖，每次去羅東宜蘭必要去拜拜地方。1950年臘月，鄉紳簡阿祥發起媽祖廟籌建事宜，設立創建委員會，用以感謝媽祖庇佑1946年3月23日南方澳漁民在海上倖免於難。原意到北港朝天宮分香，後決定自行請神，神像木材是南方澳附近山上的樟木。1952年桐月，大殿完成。1]

昔日利澤簡永安宮的繞境範圍曾遠及南方澳，直到南方澳建媽祖廟才結束[2]。1954年新聞報導在農曆三月二十三日媽祖生，南方澳剛好適是漁忙之暇，整日演戲酬神、大開流水席，公路局公車還會加班，接送乘客[3]。愛國獎券發行，若干彩迷會將獎券號碼壓在神像底下暗中拜求，但疑似因此媽祖像頭頸曾被未中獎的彩迷砍得幾乎裂斷[4]。1956年11月18日全廟落成[1。廟址為蘇澳鎮江夏路17號[5]。

後殿於1990年開始建造，分三層卻有五層樓的高度，格局仿泉州媽祖廟，最上層供奉金媽祖，全部的神像、木雕石雕都來自中國大陸，分別由漳州、泉州和惠安名師雕刻。1994年12月29日舉行落成兼金媽祖模型安座典禮。1987年8月29日，警方在南方澳漁港查獲宜蘭縣頭城籍進豐三號漁船，涉嫌在海上與中國大陸漁船以物易物，換得價值新台幣一百餘萬元的酒和藥品，藏在船上密倉。船長簡東煙逃離，投案後供稱，因中國大陸漁民強行將他的魚貨劫走，然後又將酒、藥品搬到他船上；船員陳添才、連文輝則供稱，26日下午16時許，在彭佳嶼東北方海面作業時，有中國大陸漁民開船前來，和船長簡東煙商談後，就將進豐三號價值新台幣約十萬元的魚貨換成數十箱酒和藥品，由簡東煙...