North Gate Fu De Temple
The front site of the North Gate Fu De Temple
There were once a total of four Fu De Temples (temples of the earth god), each located near a town wall gate, but only the one near the west gate remains as it was. Funds for building the Fu De Temple of the north gate (see map 
) were raised in 1810 by Ba-ying Wu of the Wu clan, and because its size quickly became insufficient for the rapidly growing number worshippers, in 1815 it was expanded to become a traditional temple (where gods of higher ranking are worshipped).
The rear side of the North Gate Fu De Temple, facing Pinghe Road and hidden behind a cluster of shops
During the Japanese Occupation period, the temple was partially destroyed due to a fire that broke out in a road expansion construction, and it was not until 1983 that it was rebuilt into its modern day incarnation: the six-story-high Fu De Building. The North Gate Fu De Temple is located on the first floor of the building, but because it faces away from Heping Road, to get to it one must enter through 35 of Heping Road (next to Kobayashi Optics, see map 
) or through the garment lane on Chenling Road.
Let not its obscure location fool you: this is the most lucrative earth god temple in Taiwan. Because it is situated in one of the most prosperous prime locations of Changhua City, this temple is able to make a receive a substantial amount of income from the rent collected.
