TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Hsin Kang Feng Tian Temple (新港奉天宮) Chairman He Ta-huang (何達煌) initiated a blessing ceremony Tuesday (Dec. 2) for the "Alishan Divine Journey" event in Taiwan's mountain resort region. He placed incense strips at the temple entrance to bless the greater Alishan area. The ceremony marked the beginning of a unique spirituality and tourism event combining faith with regional tourism promotion.
The Alishan National Scenic Area Administration (阿里山管理處), Taiwan's government tourism agency for the region, and Hsin Kang Feng Tian Temple organized the event, announced Nov. 24. Organizers invited Mazu statues from 18 townships in Chiayi County, Taiwan's southwestern county, and the islands of Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. The event combines spirituality with tourism in the Alishan region.
The event will feature 30 Mazu statues touring Alishan from Dec. 19 to 22. Five statues will travel by train from Alishan Forest Railway's Beimen Station (阿里山林鐵北門車站), a historic narrow-gauge railway, on Dec. 19 morning. The statues will spend a night at Alishan Shouhen Temple (受鎮宮), then move at dawn to Zhushan (祝山) for sunrise, followed by a procession through Fenqihu Old Street (奮起湖老街) and the Eryanping Trail (二延平步道).
Hsin Kang Feng Tian Temple emphasized that 140 palanquin bearers will participate in the procession. Organizers will replace incense burning and firecrackers with floral tributes to preserve mountain air quality. The Alishan National Scenic Area Administration noted the event offers a significant opportunity to revitalize tourism. Organizers hope Mazu's blessing will transform Alishan into a new tourist emblem intertwining faith with natural heritage. ◼
