Baishatun Matsu pilgrimage to start April 12Staff writer, with CNAThis year’s Baishatun Matsu pilgrimage, widely recognized as Taiwan’s longest religious procession on foot, will begin on April 12, Gongtian Temple (拱天宮) in Miaoli County said yesterday. A ritual tossing of divination blocks, known as jiaobei, was held at the temple in Tongsiao Township’s (通霄) Baishatun (白沙屯) to determine the dates of key activities for the pilgrimage honoring the sea goddess Matsu. Worshipers carry the palanquin containing a statue of the sea goddess Matsu at the start of the Baishatun Matsu Pilgrimage in Miaoli County in an undated photograph. On April 20, the pilgrimage will return to Gongtian Temple, while the lighting of an incense burner marking an end of the annual pilgrimage will be held on May 1. The management of Gongtian Temple said this year’s pilgrimage will last eight days to and from Beigang.

Source: Taipei Times February 02, 2026 21:42 UTC