As one ascends the more than 120 steps leading to the temple, they are met with rows of statues, representing the renowned 18 Arhats. These figures are the Gautama Buddha's ideal follower disciples who protect the Mahayana Buddhist faith. Further along the steps, one can see the stone gate used as fortification by Zhangzhou settlers in 1825 to protect against attacks led by the Fujian settlers. This wall was used to line the protected area with weapons to assist in their defense.

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Once inside the temple, the General King Chen, a military leader and Taoist immortal introduced by Fujian immigrants, can be seen in the central hall. In addition, Wenchang Gong, the god of culture and literature, can be seen and is known to help students with literacy. The renowned ink brush stand is rumored to grant blessings to the person who touches it, and to assist students who would like to pass their exams.

The temple has a memorial dedicated to the 6 Japanese teachers who were murdered during the Zhishanyan Incident of 1896. This rebellion against the start of Japanese assimilation of Taiwan resulted many deaths on both sides. Now, each year, teachers from around Taipei travel to the memorial to pay respects and pray.

The Zhishanyan Huiji Temple has a complex past, and has had several renovations since its original construction. The current temple director, Wang Chun-Kai, attributes these improvements over the years to the increase of temple use.

“The biggest change has been the increase in activities; there are more rituals and cultural events now than before. It might be because the temple was renovated, as it was quite old when we first came, but now it's more magnificent... As a result, the temple has gradually taken over the organization of these activities.”

Large-scale festivals and traditions have been celebrated for many years. A tradition that has upheld the test of time, unlike most other city temples, is the form of donation called "Dingkou money"(丁口錢), showing the importance of keeping traditions alive even as modernization of areas continue to grow.