The Gates of Hell Open in the Seventh Lunar Month ! Four Major Intangible Cultural Heritage Events
Last updated 2026-11-10 — August 22, 2017 marked the first day of the seventh lunar month, commonly known as the opening of the Gates of Hell. In addition to the usual reminders to avoid beaches and dangerous areas, Taiwan’s folk community also hosts numerous traditional events that are significant during Ghost Month...
By MOOK Scenic Spots Family / Compiled Report
August 22, 2017 marked the first day of the seventh lunar month, commonly referred to as the opening of the Gates of Hell. Aside from the usual reminders to avoid the seaside and other hazardous spots, Taiwan’s folk culture features a variety of traditional events that are important customs during Ghost Month. The organizers of these events also strive to have them recognized as Taiwan’s intangible cultural heritage. Each year, the festivities grow more spectacular than the last, and those interested are encouraged to seize this annual opportunity to experience them firsthand.
Keelung — The Keelung Ghost Festival (Photo / Keelung City Government)
With a history of 163 years, the Keelung Ghost Festival is the most cherished intangible cultural asset of the people of Keelung. It has been listed by Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau as one of the “Twelve Major Taiwan Tourism Festivals.” The century-old ceremonial rites are presented in full during the seventh lunar month each year, creating a carnival-like atmosphere. This year, in addition to the traditional rituals, artist Chang Yijun curated an opening performance for the water lantern parade featuring a large-scale dance drama with local characteristics. The parade floats were also collaboratively designed with artists, adding rich artistic elements and even more excitement.
The Keelung Ghost Festival began in the fifth year of the Xianfeng era (1855) and has a history of 162 years. It is hosted in rotation by eleven surnames — Chang, Liao, Jian, Wu, Liu-Tang-She, Chen-Hu-Yao, Xie, Lin, Jiang, Zheng, He-Lan-Han, Lai, Xu — according to the order drawn in a lottery. In 1954 (Republic of China Year 43), the surnames Li, Guo, Wang, Yang-Zeng, Huang, Ke-Cai, Qiu, Su-Zhou-Lian, Zhong-Xiao-Ye, Bai, Yu-Xu-Xu, Dong-Tong joined to form a united surname group, bringing the total to twelve rotating host groups. Later, in 1981 (ROC Year 70), the Guo and Li surnames withdrew from the united group, and the Huang surname became independent in 1995 (ROC Year 74), resulting in the current fifteen units. The Ghost Festival begins on the first day of the seventh lunar month with the opening of the ancestral shrine door at the Old Ancestral Temple, followed by twelve days of lighting the main ritual altar, the thirteenth day’s lantern procession for blessings, the fourteenth day’s water lantern parade and beach lantern release, and the fifteenth day’s public and private soul masses and Zhong Kui exorcisms. The festival concludes on the first day of the eighth lunar month with the closing of the shrine door, spanning a full month.
[Info]
Keelung Ghost Festival
Lantern Lighting Night / Lantern Pole Setup
Time: The first day of the seventh lunar month at midnight (i.e., 11 PM on the last day of the sixth lunar month)
Location: Keelung Old Ancestral Temple
Description: At midnight on the first day of the seventh lunar month, the festival chairperson, the mayor, and temple officials jointly hold a lantern-lighting ceremony to illuminate the communal lanterns that guide the spirits of ancestors and wandering souls back to the human world to enjoy offerings.
Shrine Door Opening
Time: The first day of the seventh lunar month at 2 PM (typically in the afternoon)
Location: Keelung Old Ancestral Temple
Description: The presiding family surname prepares offerings at the Old Ancestral Temple, opens the spirit door, and releases the wandering souls, allowing the “good brothers” to come to the human realm to receive offerings. This continues until the end of the month. The ceremony is held annually at 2 PM on the first day of the seventh lunar month at the Old Ancestral Temple, where the presiding surname representative uses a key to open the shrine door.
Lantern Pole Erection
Time: The eleventh day of the seventh lunar month at 8 AM
Location: Main Ritual Altar, Qing’an Temple
Description: A bamboo pole is erected at the main ritual altar, symbolizing completeness and continuous advancement. It invites land-based wandering souls to the human world to receive offerings. The taller the lantern pole, the richer the offerings must be.
Main Ritual Altar Lantern Lighting
Time: The twelfth day of the seventh lunar month at 7 PM
Location: Main Ritual Altar
Description: After purification by monks, the presiding committee chairperson, the incense leader, and local officials press the switch to illuminate the main ritual altar, making it shine brightly against the night sky.
Lantern Procession
Time: The thirteenth day of the seventh lunar month at 2 PM
Location: Various surnames’ lanterns, city streets, then enshrined at Qing’an Temple
Description: The lantern procession is an annual traditional event following ancient customs. Usually housed in various clan guildhalls, the lanterns are paraded through the streets on the thirteenth day and then enshrined in Qing’an Temple. Once lit, the lanterns must not be extinguished to ensure the prosperity of each clan.
Water Lantern Parade
Time: The 14th day of the seventh lunar month, 7:00 PM
Location: Keelung City Streets
Description: The parade of the Water Lantern Heads through the city streets during the Ghost Festival is the most spectacular display of clan rivalry, symbolizing both the unity of family lineages and embodying religious and folk significance. On that night, the whole city comes alive and the streets are packed with people, making it a signature event of the Keelung Ghost Festival. Festive activities such as lantern floats, flower floats, and traditional performance troupes create an exhilarating atmosphere.
Releasing Water Lanterns
Time: The first hour of the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month (i.e., starting from 11:00 PM on the 14th)
Location: Wanghai Alley Seaside
Description: The purpose of releasing water lanterns is to light the way for wandering spirits in the water, guiding them to the shore to share offerings, thereby bringing peace to both the aquatic and terrestrial souls. At midnight, each clan lights their Water Lantern Head and releases it onto the sea, allowing it to drift away. It is believed that the farther the lantern floats, the better the fortune for that clan. Therefore, open waters and low tide are chosen to help the lanterns drift far out to sea, attracting the wandering spirits of the water.
Ghost Festival Feeding of the Spirits
Time: The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, 7:00 PM
Location: Main Worship Altar
Description: The highlight of the Ghost Festival is the universal offering. Out of fear and compassion, the public holds ceremonies to appease the spirits and pray for peace, to prevent any unrest caused by restless souls.
Farewell to the Spirits / Zhong Kui Dance
Time: The first hour of the sixteenth day of the seventh lunar month (i.e., 11:00 PM on the 15th)
Location: Main Worship Altar
Description: The legend of Zhong Kui originates from the Tang Dynasty, where he was a scholar from Zhongnan Mountain and is now regarded as one of Taiwan’s most important deities for exorcising evil spirits. After the conclusion of the Ghost Festival offerings at 11:00 PM, to prevent the lingering spirits from staying too long, gentle methods are first used to guide the wandering souls away. If needed, the ghost-repelling deity Zhong Kui is invoked to forcibly drive them away.
Closing the Shrine Door
Time: The first day of the eighth lunar month, 5:00 PM
Location: Keelung Kaiji Laoda Gong Temple
Description: The Keelung Ghost Festival closes the shrine door on the first day of the eighth lunar month. This is because it is commonly believed among the people that the opening of the shrine door should not be delayed, so as not to hinder the spirits from coming out to receive offerings, while the closing should not be too early, to allow spirits from all directions to return to the netherworld in time. Closing the shrine door marks the end of the Ghost Festival. After enjoying a month of worship and offerings, the wandering spirits must return to the underworld, signifying the successful completion of the Ghost Festival ceremonies.
Chiayi Torch Night Patrol. (Photo / 2017 Taiwan’s Exclusive Ghostly Legends)
● Chiayi / Taiwan’s Exclusive Ghostly Legends
Chiayi County’s “Taiwan’s Exclusive Ghostly Legends” kicks off on August 19th with the lighting ceremony of the “Torch Night Patrol” at Guogou Jiande Temple, followed by a series of ghost-themed events. These include the highlight event from September 11th to 13th—the “Da Shi Ye Cultural Festival” at Minxiong Da Shi Ye Temple—and the highly anticipated Ghost Parade. A variety of Chiayi local food discounts and exciting performances will also be held simultaneously.
[Info]
◎ Torch Night Patrol
August 19–21 (6th to 30th days of the sixth lunar month)
Buqi Guogou Jiande Temple Torch Night Patrol 16:00–22:00
Address: No. 30, Xishì, Guogou, Xianlǐ, Budai Township, Chiayi County
◎ Minxiong Da Shi Ye Cultural Festival
9/8(18th day of the seventh lunar month)
Minxiong Da Shi Ye Temple Creative Parade 16:00~22:00
September 11–13 (Lunar Calendar: July 21–23)
Minxiong Da Shi Ye Cultural Festival 16:00~19:00
Hengchun Ancient City International Pole-Climbing & Ghost-Catching Cultural Tourism Event (Photo / Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications)
● Pingtung | 2017 Hengchun Ancient City International Pole-Climbing & Ghost-Catching Cultural Tourism Event
Every year on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the Ghost Festival, Hengchun holds a pole-climbing event known as "erecting the ghost-catching pole." At the event, several logs approximately 3.6 zhang (about 12 meters) long and coated in butter are erected, and a ghost-catching platform is built atop them. Participants form teams to compete, with the winning team being the first to retrieve a flag placed at the top of the pole. Originally, four logs were used to symbolize the four ancient towns within Hengchun. To increase the number of participating teams, make the competition more intense, and enhance the event’s appeal, the four logs have now been replaced with thirty-six poles. This change tests participants' teamwork, climbing skills, and physical strength. The evening program is rich and entertaining, featuring traditional grand ceremonial rituals, the erection and climbing of the poles, the ghost-catching contest, an ancient city music concert, a performing troupes carnival competition, a creative street parade carnival, a cheerleading competition, and a national photography contest. The surrounding area also gathers local cultural specialties, fun toys, and regional delicacies.
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