The Mazu of Baishatun Acts as Your Guide: Join the Pilgrimage and Travel Across Taiwan

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

Every year, the pilgrimage of Mazu from Gongtian Temple in Baishatun, who walks south to Chaotian Temple in Beigang, Yunlin, attracts thousands of devotees. The 2015 Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage began at 00:05 on May 22 and arrived at Chaotian Temple in Beigang before noon the next day. The pilgrimage concluded with the return to the temple on May 28, spanning seven days and six nights. The total walking distance of approximately 400 kilometers round trip tests the faith and endurance of the pilgrims.

Baishatun is a coastal town along the Western Trunk Line railway, nestled between mountains and sea. Like other coastal settlements in Taiwan, the pioneering ancestors who made a living from the sea worshipped Mazu as their guardian deity, helping the early settlers endure hardship and cultivate the land with unyielding spirit. The tradition of Baishatun Mazu’s pilgrimage to Chaotian Temple in Beigang has a century-long history. It is the longest-standing, longest-distance, and most uniquely unpredictable of all the walking pilgrimage events in Taiwan.

Starting from Gongtian Temple in Baishatun and ending at Chaotian Temple in Beigang, Yunlin County, the entire route is guided by Mazu herself, with no pre-planned itinerary or designated rest stops. No one knows where the path will lead next, allowing pilgrims to discover parts of Taiwan they may never have seen before. The journey spans from Miaoli to Yunlin County, crossing the Da’an River, Dajia River, Dajiaxi River, and Zhuoshui River. The route is longer than that of the Dajia Mazu pilgrimage, yet takes two fewer days, making the schedule even tighter. Additionally, to help pilgrims keep up with the unpredictable route of the Baishatun Mazu, the temple provides live streaming and GPS tracking services on its official website. With a mobile device, followers can track Mazu’s movements in real time.