Built in 1673, the Tianhou Temple at Cihou is the oldest temple in Kaohsiung City. At that time, fishermen from the Fujien Province in China were driven to the area by a typhoon. Here they discovered an excellent place to fish and built a settlement. After they returned home for a visit, they organized other villagers to come back with them to populate the settlement. They also brought the Matsu goddess from Meijhou. Through fundraising efforts of local nobles a temple was built. The layout of the Tianhou Temple follows a two-hall and two-side-chamber layout. Though it has been renovated many times over the centuries, the carvings and clay sculptures still retain their classical elegance. The Tianhou Temple is dedicated to Matsu, so the locals also know it as the Matsu Temple. The temple has many worshippers. Since it is Kaohsiung City's first Matsu Temple, in 1979 the government recognized it as a Class 3 Building of Historical Interest.