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Witness / Attend in Dajia
Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage
A coastal district of Taichung on Taiwan's west side, built around Dajia Jenn Lann Temple, one of the island's most important shrines to the sea goddess Mazu. Each spring the temple launches the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage, a nine-day, roughly 340-kilometre procession south and back through central Taiwan that is one of the largest religious events in the world.
No overall organizer. Dajia Jenn Lann Temple anchors the event; the rest belongs to the streets.
Dates & details verified against: Official city source ↗
Why here
The Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage is one of the largest religious gatherings on the planet and the beating heart of Taiwan's folk faith. Each spring, the statue of the sea goddess Mazu is carried out of Dajia Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung and escorted on foot for nine days and eight nights, about 340 kilometres south to Xingang in Chiayi and back, passing through more than a hundred temples across four counties. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk part or all of the route, day and night, while whole towns line the roads to greet the palanquin, set off firecrackers, and offer free food, drink and a place to sleep to anyone on the walk. Believers kneel in the road so the god's sedan will pass over them for blessing, and the air is thick with incense, drums and the tossing of divination blocks. There is no ticket and no stage; the event is the crowd itself, a river of devotion moving through the countryside. Joining even a single day on foot, or watching the departure and return at Dajia, is one of the most moving cultural experiences in Asia.
Best months
The pilgrimage falls in the third lunar month, so it lands in spring, usually late March or April; the precise departure is decided each year by casting divination blocks at Dajia Jenn Lann Temple, and announced months ahead. In 2026 it ran from the night of 17 April to 26 April. Spring in central Taiwan is warm and can be humid with spells of rain, and walkers face long days and nights on hard roads, so good shoes, sun protection and rest are essential for anyone joining on foot. The departure at Dajia and the birthday rites mid-route are the most intense, densely crowded moments.
Getting there & around
Dajia is in coastal Taichung, reached by train to Dajia station on the coast line and a short walk to Jenn Lann Temple; Taichung's high-speed-rail and main stations connect it to the rest of the island. There is no admission and no booking. Most visitors either watch the departure and homecoming ceremonies at the temple or join a section of the route on foot, following the schedule the temple publishes for each town and overnight stop. Free food and shelter are offered to walkers along the way by local communities, but carry water, cash and basic supplies, plan where to sleep, and check the Taichung City and temple announcements for the year's confirmed dates and route.
Skill levels: beginner
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