Zhu means bamboo in Chinese, and the temple is so named because it was built along the city moat wherethere used to be lush bamboo groves. It isthe oldest remaining temple in Hsinchu. The temple is also called the Guan Yin Pavilion because it houses Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy (and the feminine form of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva). The temple was originally a small family shrine. One day, a passerby saw a Guan Yin statue under a tree and brought it into the shrine to worship. In 1783, the current structure was built with many fine details, such as elaborately carved window lattices, famous paintings and ancient wooden tablets. It is one of the most popular temples in Hsinchu.