9th Cross-Strait Ciji Culture Tourism Festival on April 8-18

The 9th Cross-Strait Ciji Culture Tourism Festival, which is held annually to promote cultural exchange across the Taiwan Strait and in honor of the "Medical Saint" Wu Ben, was launched at Qingjiao Ciji Temple in Haicang District at 9:30 a.m. this morning.

The festival will last until April 18th in Haicang Distrct.

A Chinese herbal cooking competition will be held from April 8th to 10th at Yuanqian Sub-village in Qingjiao Village which is one of the 24 New Xiamen Scenic Spots and the first village in China to feature the ecological cultures of Fujian and Taiwan. It is opposite to the Qingjiao Ciji Temple.

About Qingjiao Ciji Temple

Wu Ben, born in 979 A.D. in Xiamen, was a popular and famous doctor during the Song Dynasty who devoted himself to research in Traditional Chinese Medicine. He gained respect from the locals for his excellent medical skills. In 1033, Wu died when he fell off a cliff while gathering herbs for a cure for the plague. After his death, locals honored him with the title "Medical Saint" for his contribution to medicine, and collected money to build a hall and statue in his honor.

In 1161, the Emperor granted the hall the title of Ciji Miao; in 1241 it was renamed Ciji Gong (Ciji Palace). In 1999 the temple was restored to its original design, and today, thousands of pilgrims make the trek to pay homage to him.

The features of the temple

Qingjiao Ciji Temple can be considered a great piece of architectural art from the Song Dynasty. The temple features ten stone pillars made with delicate carvings of dragons, wood carvings of animals, flowers, and characters made by porcelain.

Scenic spots near the temple

As the temple is located in the suburbs, it features a different landscape from that of Nanputuo Temple. It is a peaceful place free from the hustle and bustle of the city. Other scenic spots near the temple include Riyuegu Hot springs resort and Tianzhushan Mountain.