Taichung Celebrates 100 Years of Station Construction: Mayor Lin Chia-lung Invites Public to Experience the Centennial Mazu Gathering

In 1917, Taichung Railway Station and the Second Market were completed and opened, marking a milestone in Taichung's march toward modernization. That year, 7 Mazu temples from central Taiwan jointly enshrined their deities in Taichung to celebrate the grand occasion. This year marks the centennial, and the Taichung City Government, together with 15 century-old temples in central Taiwan, is holding the "Centennial Mazu Gathering - Deities Protecting Taichung" series of events from July 13 to 16, including a procession, street art and performance troupe shows, and a Mazu theater night. Through the integrated presentation of folk customs and cultural activities, the events aim to revitalize historical memory. Mayor Lin Chia-lung invites people from across the country to actively take part in this once-in-a-century celebration and experience the richness and diversity of Mazu culture; miss it and you will have to wait another hundred years.

The city government held a promotional press conference on the 4th, where 15 century-old Mazu temples from central Taiwan gathered together for the first time, joining Mayor Lin Chia-lung, Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Wang Chih-cheng, Civil Affairs Bureau Director Tsai Shih-yin, and City Councilors Ho Min-cheng, Yu Pi-ling, Chiu Su-chen, Liu Shih-chou, and others to jointly announce the official start of this centennial celebration.

"Meeting again after a hundred years!" Mayor Lin Chia-lung said that with Taichung as the central point, and to promote Mazu culture, the city government has called on 15 temples to jointly hold the "Centennial Mazu Gathering - Deities Protecting Taichung" event. Through the combination of temple fairs, religious, and artistic activities, the hope is that people from across the country can come to Taichung and see a complete presentation of Taiwan's Mazu culture, including the distinctive culture or cultural and creative products of each temple, as well as markets, processions, and blessing ceremonies. This happens only once in a hundred years; miss it and you will have to wait another hundred years. Everyone is welcome to come and experience the richness and diversity of Mazu culture.

In addition, the Taichung City Economic Development Bureau will hold the "Centennial Market" at Taichung Park from the 14th to the 16th, selling Taichung specialty products, and starting at 6 p.m. on the first day of the event, the 14th, 2,000 portions of free small snacks will be given out on site for the public to taste.