460,000 Walk with Mazu: Changes and Constants in Century-Old Baishatun
The century-old Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage has exploded to 460,000 participants thanks to social media. While bringing immense economic benefits, the boom has caused traffic and environmental strain, prompting organizers to urge preserving the pure essence of faith amidst the craze.
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- 📰 Published: April 19, 2026 at 19:19
- 🔍 Collected: April 19, 2026 at 19:31 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 21:37 (2h 5m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA, Reporter Kuan Jui-ping, Miaoli County, 19th) The Baishatun Mazu walking pilgrimage has a history of over a hundred years. Recently, due to the rapid spread of internet technology, it has developed into a national religious mega-event, bringing crowds and wealth to Baishatun. Amidst these changing times, Gongtian Temple and local residents hope to continue safeguarding the core faith of "Mazu leading the way."
Every early spring, Mazu from Baishatun Gongtian Temple in Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, heads south to Beigang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin for a pilgrimage, done entirely on foot. The biggest feature is the lack of a fixed schedule or route, moving entirely according to Mazu's will.
On the 15th of the 12th lunar month, Gongtian Temple casts divination blocks to ask Mazu and select the dates for the following year's important pilgrimage ceremonies. As for the walking route, it relies on the palanquin bearers feeling the pulling force of the palanquin poles to determine the direction. Everything is "Mazu leading the way."
Gongtian Temple has always emphasized that Baishatun Mazu goes to Beigang for a "pilgrimage" (Jinxiang), not a "border tour" (Raojing).
Chen Chun-fa, general secretary of the Gongtian Temple management committee, explained that while various temples might interpret terms for deities traveling differently, for Gongtian Temple, a deity patrolling and blessing within its own home territory is a "border tour." Baishatun Mazu going to Beigang Chaotian Temple to gather fire symbolizes the continuation and sharing of Mazu's spiritual power. Passing through counties like Taichung, Changhua, and Yunlin along the way is called a "pilgrimage" to show respect and humility.
The Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage palanquin, dubbed the "Pink Supercar," moves unpredictably. The uniqueness of the event itself, along with believers' various stories of "connections" and miracles with Mazu, spread rapidly through internet technology. Combined with the county government hosting the Baishatun Cultural and Art Festival and developing creative products in 2014, Baishatun Mazu's fame has skyrocketed. This has attracted a younger generation of "pilgrims" (Xiangdeng Jiao) to join, with registration numbers climbing annually, surpassing 460,000 this year.
Lo Tiao-pin, founder of the Baishatun Mazu Website, returned home in 2001 to promote the pilgrimage culture. He told CNA that over 20 years ago, there was only one traditional grocery store in front of Gongtian Temple. Today, street vendors in the surrounding alleys have exploded, easily reaching 200 stalls. Property prices and shop/stall rents have soared; a townhouse can be priced as high as 25 million NTD and still find buyers. Many who choose to buy property there are devout Mazu believers.
Lo said crowds bring wealth. As the pilgrimage scale grows exponentially, besides Gongtian Temple flourishing, it naturally drives local commercial and economic development.
However, nowadays, on weekends before 9 AM, it's almost impossible to find a parking space near Gongtian Temple, let alone during the peak days of departure and return. Accompanying issues like garbage, noise, and traffic paralysis inevitably lead to complaints from local residents.
Lin Hsing-fu, secretary of Gongtian Temple, stated in an interview that culture is accumulated over time. Previously, it relied on word of mouth from older generations. As a son of Baishatun, he has actively promoted written and video documentation for years, hoping to preserve local traditions and faith culture, letting more people know Baishatun. However, facing the influx of hundreds of thousands of people today, the carrying capacity of the small village is indeed strained.
Lin pointed out that the spatial layout of Baishatun, developed in the Qing Dynasty, cannot handle current traffic volumes. Outer environments like transportation and food will inevitably change with the times. The temple has been looking for ways to relieve the pressure of crowds and vehicles. For example, this year, the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Transportation actively assisted in promoting environmental protection and shuttle buses, hoping the event runs smoother.
Lin said Gongtian Temple is also actively cooperating with the county government to improve surrounding traffic, including the construction of north and south connecting roads, with the temple providing matching funds of 40 million and over 70 million NTD, respectively. They are also striving to use state-owned land to build a large parking lot, hoping to significantly alleviate congestion next year.
Lin mentioned that in recent years, many people participate out of curiosity after seeing internet and media videos. While this is also a beginning of forming a connection with Mazu, "it is very easy to dilute the essence of the faith this way."
From Gongtian Temple's standpoint, the tradition of "Mazu leading the way" and "Mazu guiding" continued over the years will never change. Believers are welcome to worship Mazu, but it is also hoped that everyone can calm down, deeply experience, and understand the faith left by ancestors and their loyalty to Mazu. Amid the "Pink Supercar" craze, they hope to preserve the purest original intention of the faith. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang)
(CNA, Reporter Kuan Jui-ping, Miaoli County, 19th) The Baishatun Mazu walking pilgrimage has a history of over a hundred years. Recently, due to the rapid spread of internet technology, it has developed into a national religious mega-event, bringing crowds and wealth to Baishatun. Amidst these changing times, Gongtian Temple and local residents hope to continue safeguarding the core faith of "Mazu leading the way."
Every early spring, Mazu from Baishatun Gongtian Temple in Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, heads south to Beigang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin for a pilgrimage, done entirely on foot. The biggest feature is the lack of a fixed schedule or route, moving entirely according to Mazu's will.
On the 15th of the 12th lunar month, Gongtian Temple casts divination blocks to ask Mazu and select the dates for the following year's important pilgrimage ceremonies. As for the walking route, it relies on the palanquin bearers feeling the pulling force of the palanquin poles to determine the direction. Everything is "Mazu leading the way."
Gongtian Temple has always emphasized that Baishatun Mazu goes to Beigang for a "pilgrimage" (Jinxiang), not a "border tour" (Raojing).
Chen Chun-fa, general secretary of the Gongtian Temple management committee, explained that while various temples might interpret terms for deities traveling differently, for Gongtian Temple, a deity patrolling and blessing within its own home territory is a "border tour." Baishatun Mazu going to Beigang Chaotian Temple to gather fire symbolizes the continuation and sharing of Mazu's spiritual power. Passing through counties like Taichung, Changhua, and Yunlin along the way is called a "pilgrimage" to show respect and humility.
The Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage palanquin, dubbed the "Pink Supercar," moves unpredictably. The uniqueness of the event itself, along with believers' various stories of "connections" and miracles with Mazu, spread rapidly through internet technology. Combined with the county government hosting the Baishatun Cultural and Art Festival and developing creative products in 2014, Baishatun Mazu's fame has skyrocketed. This has attracted a younger generation of "pilgrims" (Xiangdeng Jiao) to join, with registration numbers climbing annually, surpassing 460,000 this year.
Lo Tiao-pin, founder of the Baishatun Mazu Website, returned home in 2001 to promote the pilgrimage culture. He told CNA that over 20 years ago, there was only one traditional grocery store in front of Gongtian Temple. Today, street vendors in the surrounding alleys have exploded, easily reaching 200 stalls. Property prices and shop/stall rents have soared; a townhouse can be priced as high as 25 million NTD and still find buyers. Many who choose to buy property there are devout Mazu believers.
Lo said crowds bring wealth. As the pilgrimage scale grows exponentially, besides Gongtian Temple flourishing, it naturally drives local commercial and economic development.
However, nowadays, on weekends before 9 AM, it's almost impossible to find a parking space near Gongtian Temple, let alone during the peak days of departure and return. Accompanying issues like garbage, noise, and traffic paralysis inevitably lead to complaints from local residents.
Lin Hsing-fu, secretary of Gongtian Temple, stated in an interview that culture is accumulated over time. Previously, it relied on word of mouth from older generations. As a son of Baishatun, he has actively promoted written and video documentation for years, hoping to preserve local traditions and faith culture, letting more people know Baishatun. However, facing the influx of hundreds of thousands of people today, the carrying capacity of the small village is indeed strained.
Lin pointed out that the spatial layout of Baishatun, developed in the Qing Dynasty, cannot handle current traffic volumes. Outer environments like transportation and food will inevitably change with the times. The temple has been looking for ways to relieve the pressure of crowds and vehicles. For example, this year, the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Transportation actively assisted in promoting environmental protection and shuttle buses, hoping the event runs smoother.
Lin said Gongtian Temple is also actively cooperating with the county government to improve surrounding traffic, including the construction of north and south connecting roads, with the temple providing matching funds of 40 million and over 70 million NTD, respectively. They are also striving to use state-owned land to build a large parking lot, hoping to significantly alleviate congestion next year.
Lin mentioned that in recent years, many people participate out of curiosity after seeing internet and media videos. While this is also a beginning of forming a connection with Mazu, "it is very easy to dilute the essence of the faith this way."
From Gongtian Temple's standpoint, the tradition of "Mazu leading the way" and "Mazu guiding" continued over the years will never change. Believers are welcome to worship Mazu, but it is also hoped that everyone can calm down, deeply experience, and understand the faith left by ancestors and their loyalty to Mazu. Amid the "Pink Supercar" craze, they hope to preserve the purest original intention of the faith. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang)