By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

 
Over 70,000 visitors flocked here during the Qingming holiday, and more than 200,000 people checked in during Lunar New Year. The recently viral Budai High Heel Church, with its unique design, has attracted a huge number of tourists. On April 6, in the presence of Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hua-kuan, County Councilors Tsai Wei-chieh, Tsai Hsin-tien, Budai Township Mayor Chen Feng-mei, surveyors, and architects, it aimed to enter the Guinness World Records as the largest high heel-shaped building.

Zheng Rong-liu, Director of the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan Coastal National Scenic Area Administration, said that the current world’s tallest high heel-shaped building is in Las Vegas at 18 meters, while the Budai High Heel Church stands at 17.76 meters. It has attracted coverage from over 260 international media outlets. After the completion of Phase II, the entire area is expected to open in May.

The Budai High Heel Church is constructed with 1,296 pieces of stainless steel and 320 blue glass panels. The main structure is 17.76 meters tall, 25.16 meters long, and 11.91 meters wide, symbolizing the traditional Taiwanese wedding custom where a high heel is used to break away from past misfortunes and step into a bright future.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Budai area lacked running water, and locals often suffered from blackfoot disease due to long-term consumption of groundwater, leading to many amputations. Girls who lost both feet could not wear high heels or walk down the aisle. The High Heel Church also serves as a memorial for those girls who lost their happiness due to amputation, while blessing all girls to joyfully wear high heels and step into a happy future. The anticipated success of the High Heel Church’s Guinness World Record application is expected to generate even more buzz.