Baishatun Gongtian Temple

During the Qianlong reign, the early settlers of Baishatun brought a soft-bodied Mazu statue into a private home to worship. Late in the Xianfeng reign they pooled funds to build a temple, which was completed in 1863, the second year of the Tongzhi reign: the beginning of Gongtian Temple. The people here have made their living from the sea for generations, and faith in Mazu has been their most important spiritual anchor against wind and waves. What truly sets Baishatun Mazu apart is the pilgrimage that has carried on year after year: the palanquin travels on foot from Baishatun to Beigang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin, with the departure date chosen each year by casting divination blocks. In 2026 the journey took eight days and seven nights. Unlike Dajia Mazu, Baishatun Mazu decides her own route, pointing the way through the swaying of her palanquin, so the path is different every year, which is why she is hailed as 'the Mazu with the most personality.' The number of devotees following the palanquin grows every year; in 2026, registrations passed 460,000.