Welcoming the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage: 20-Meter-Tall Chibi Mazu Appears at Qiuhong Valley

▲The Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage is set to take place in April, with a 20-meter-tall chibi Mazu and 18-meter-tall chibi depictions of the Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear unveiled at Qiuhong Valley Park in Taichung on the 22nd. Their adorable appearances attracted many visitors. (Photo / Provided by Taichung City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

One of Taiwan’s largest annual religious events, the “Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage,” will commence on April 6. To coincide with this grand occasion, the Dajia Zhenlan Temple has specially created a 20-meter-tall chibi Mazu, along with 18-meter-tall chibi versions of the “Thousand-Mile Eye” and “Wind-Following Ear” deity balloons. These figures have been on display in Taichung’s Qiuhong Valley Park since the 22nd for one week, aiming to bring spiritual peace and blessings to the public through the imagery of the three deities.

The Taichung Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the idea was inspired by the Dajia Zhenlan Temple’s reference to the 2013–2014 global phenomenon of the yellow rubber duck. As a result, they designed chibi versions of Mazu, the Thousand-Mile Eye, and the Wind-Following Ear, hoping to attract more people to learn about Mazu culture. In the future, these figures will also join the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage, traveling to places such as Changhua County, Yunlin County, and Chiayi County for exhibition tours.

The chibi Mazu, Thousand-Mile Eye, and Wind-Following Ear figures will be on display from now until the 27th. An on-site charity fair will also be held. Since their unveiling at Qiuhong Valley on the 22nd, they have drawn many visitors for photos and sightseeing. However, on the first day of the exhibition, around noon, strong winds caused Mazu to partially deflate. To ensure the figures’ integrity, the organizers noted that if wind speeds reach force eight, the three deities will be temporarily taken down to “avoid the wind.”