Text by MOOK Scenic Spots / Christopher, compiled and reported
Folk beliefs are a major feature of local culture in Taiwan. Due to the island's geographical characteristic of being surrounded by sea and frequent maritime activities, the sea goddess Mazu is one of the most widely worshipped deities among Taiwanese people. With the flourishing of faith culture, several giant Mazu statues have been built around Taiwan to express 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, radiating 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 trains pass by the Mazu statue—sometimes even capturing the surreal sight of Mazu seemingly riding a train. However, visitors are advised to pay extra attention to safety while taking photos.
Houlong Qinghai Temple: the view of the Mazu statue as if she is riding a train (Image provided by Huang Feng)
Houlong Qinghai Temple: the Mazu statue alongside a passing train (Image provided by Huang Feng)
The Mazu statue at Qinghai Temple is a stone sculpture that took 20 years to complete, carved from 266 pieces of granite (Image provided by Huang Feng)
In addition to the Mazu statue at Houlong Qinghai Temple in Miaoli, there is also a giant Mazu statue near Wulong Temple in Xihu Township. Furthermore, there is a Mazu statue on Matsu that was once the tallest in the world, symbolizing the deep faith of the Matsu people in the goddess.
The Mazu statue near Wulong Temple in Xihu Township, Miaoli (Image provided by Huang Feng)
The base of the Wulong Temple Mazu statue is built with 161 pieces of bluish-gray stone, while the main deity is composed of 299 pieces of granite (Image provided by Huang Feng)
- 1
- 2