The Goddess Mazu Takes a Train Ride: A 32-Meter Statue Took 20 Years to Build
Text by MOOK Scenic Spots / Christopher, compiled and reported
Folk belief is a major feature of Taiwan's local culture. Due to its geography surrounded by sea and frequent maritime activities, the sea goddess Mazu is one of the most widely worshipped deities among Taiwanese. With the flourishing of faith culture, several giant Mazu statues have been built around Taiwan to convey deep devotion. One of them is located at Houlong Qinghai Temple in Miaoli. From the nearby Good Viewpoint Scenic Area, visitors can see the silhouette of the Mazu statue in the distance, exuding an image of protecting the nation and its people. Walking less than 10 minutes from the southern side of Qinghai Temple, besides enjoying the coastal scenery, you can also witness the moment when a train passes by the Mazu statue, and even capture the extraordinary sight of Mazu seemingly riding the train. However, visitors are advised to pay extra attention to safety when taking photos.
Houlong Qinghai Temple, where it looks like the Mazu statue is riding a train (Image provided by Huang Feng)
Houlong Qinghai Temple, Mazu statue with a passing train (Image provided by Huang Feng)
The Mazu statue at Qinghai Temple, a stone sculpture that took 20 years to complete, is carved from 266 pieces of granite (Image provided by Huang Feng)
Besides the Mazu statue at Houlong Qinghai Temple in Miaoli, there is also a giant Mazu statue next to Wulong Temple in Xihu Township. Additionally, there is a Mazu statue on Matsu that was once the tallest in the world, symbolizing the deep faith of the Matsu people.
The Mazu statue next to Wulong Temple in Xihu Township, Miaoli (Image provided by Huang Feng)
The base of the Wulong Temple Mazu statue is built from 161 pieces of blue-gray stone, while the main deity is composed of 299 pieces of granite (Image provided by Huang Feng)
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