Donggang Donglong Temple

In 1706, a log inscribed 'Donggang Wen Ji' drifted ashore at Donggang, and the residents built a temple to Lord Wen; only after the tsunami of 1894 was the temple relocated. What all of Taiwan remembers Donglong Temple for is the Donggang Ying Wang Ping'an Festival, held once every three years. The festival lasts eight days, from 'inviting the lords,' when the Royal Lords touring on Heaven's behalf are welcomed ashore, to 'sending off the lords' on the final night, when the ornate royal boat is burned to send them back to the heavenly court — and every step follows strict ancient rites. The royal boat is built by local craftsmen using traditional methods, carved and painted so finely it takes your breath away. On the night of the send-off, crowds of the faithful gather on the shore to watch the flames consume the boat inch by inch — a sight both magnificent and overwhelming. The Donggang Ying Wang festival is now a nationally important folk custom.