The 2026 Lanyang Mazu Cultural Festival will be launched on October 2. Beigang Xiluo Shuanghou leads a land tour of 3,000 believers

The Lanyang Mazu Cultural Festival was launched on October 2, with Beigang and Xiluo Shuanghou leading a land tour of 3,000 believers. (Photo provided by Yilan County Government)

Yilan's annual religious event "2026 Lanyang Mazu Cultural Festival" is scheduled to take place on October 2, starting a three-day land and sea tour. This year, Nanfang'ao Jin'an Temple will serve as the officiating temple, and Yunlin Beigang Chaotian Temple and Xiluo Fuxing Temple will be invited to participate in the grand event. The two major temples will lead 3,000 believers to join the land tour lineup, creating a rare "Three Mothers Meeting" event.

Beigang Chaotian Temple, which has a history of more than 300 years, was invited to the Lanyang Plain for blessings for the first time this year, which became a highlight of the event. Chaotian Temple is expected to mobilize a large team of up to 1,600 people to embark on a land journey around the border, injecting the power of Mazu belief across counties and cities into Yilan, allowing local people to make a pilgrimage up close.

In addition, the "Taiping Ma" of Xiluo Fuxing Palace who visited last year also reunited happily with the "Coral Mazu" of Jin'an Palace this year. Fuxing Palace also showed pious momentum, calling on 1,400 believers to follow the incense and will appear simultaneously with the Chaotian Palace team during the land patrol. Mazu from the north and the south gather together for a tour, showing their deep friendship.

A total of 3,000 people from Chaotian Palace and Fuxing Palace will join the land patrol, which is expected to bring a lively crowd to Yilan. Jin'an Gong, the chief priest of the temple, pointed out that this rare tour has brought together the holy graces of the three mothers. In addition to handing out exclusive peace charms along the way, people will also be arranged to ride on the legs of sedan chairs to eliminate disasters and pray for peace and success in the coming year. He called on believers to seize the opportunity to participate.

The Yilan County Government stated that the Lanyang Mazu Cultural Festival combines religious beliefs and local tourism, attracting an influx of pilgrims from other counties and cities. It not only showcases Yilan's profound cultural heritage, but also drives surrounding business opportunities and local economy. It sincerely invites people across the country to plan their itinerary in advance and visit Yilan on October 2 to experience this unique religious event.