Calendar / Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage
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Witness / Attend in Dajia
Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage
No upcoming edition on the calendar yet — the recurrence below is what we know.
No overall organizer. Dajia Jenn Lann Temple anchors the event; the rest belongs to the streets.
Dates & details verified against: Official city source ↗
Why go
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.
When it runs
Held once a year in spring, in the third lunar month, departing from Dajia Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung for a nine-day, eight-night procession of about 340 kilometres through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi and back. The exact start is fixed each year by temple divination. In 2026 it ran 17 to 26 April; the 2027 dates are set closer to the time.
- Ran Apr 17–26, 2026Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage 2026
Dates read confirmed where the organizer has published them, and expected where we've projected the recurrence. Always verify with the organizer before booking.
What to expect
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.
Where it happens
Dajia, Taiwan.
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