2018 Beigang Mazu Round-Taiwan Pilgrimage Iron Horse Relay - Black Army First Appearance Kicks Off on 12/9 ⟦4 "2018 Beigang Mazu Round-Taiwan Pilgrimage Iron Horse Relay - Black Army First Appearance" will kick off on December 9. A press conference was held yesterday (the 9th) in the morning at the Chaotian Temple plaza. County Magistrate Li Jinyong stated that the event originates from the threads of "religious belief, sports and fitness, round-Taiwan travel, charitable donation," extended into a cycling challenge activity. Unlike ordinary round-Taiwan sports events, the activity lasts 8 days and 7 nights, passing through 22 temples along the way, totaling 896 kilometers.

"2018 Beigang Mazu Round-Taiwan Pilgrimage Bike Ride - The Black Army Emerges" will kick off on December 9. A press conference was held yesterday (the 9th) in the morning at the Chaotian Temple square. County Magistrate Lee Chin-yung said the event extends from the threads of "religious belief, sports and fitness, round-Taiwan travel, and charitable donations," expanding into a cycling challenge event. Unlike ordinary round-Taiwan sports events, the event lasts 8 days and 7 nights, passing through 22 temples along the way, for a total of 896 kilometers.

County Magistrate Li Jinyong pointed out that "Mazu" is one of the main beliefs of the people of Taiwan, with as many as fourteen million devotees. Beigang Chaotian Temple is the ancestral temple with the most branch temples of Mazu in Taiwan, with the highest number of worshippers in all of Taiwan, and is the most typical representative of "March Mazu Madness." For this event, Beigang Chaotian Temple has also specially planned a "Cycling for Charity, Round-Island Love Delivery" public welfare activity. Each contestant who registers for the event will, by the method of "donate 1 yuan for every 1 kilometer ridden," have a portion allocated from the registration fee for public welfare purposes, allowing each contestant to follow Mazu in caring for this land we live on in a more practical way. While loving Mazu, they also work together for Taiwan's environmental protection and public welfare.

Chaotian Temple Chairman Cai Yongde stated that the "2018 Beigang Mazu Round-Taiwan Pilgrimage Iron Horse Relay - Black Army First Appearance" event will depart on December 9 from Yunlin Beigang Junior High School, heading south along the way through Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, Hualien, Yilan, Hsinchu, and Taichung. This route passes along Provincial Highway 9, Provincial Highway 11, the Beiyi Highway and the East Coast Highway, and besides the continuous mountain ranges along the way, one can also glimpse the beauty of the coastline as well as famous attractions such as Mushroom Tribe, the High-Heel Church, Dapeng Bay Bridge, and Brown Boulevard.

2018 Beigang Mazu Round-Taiwan Pilgrimage Iron Horse Relay - Black Army First Appearance is divided into a 300-person round-island group and a 1,700-person per-station group. The thoughtful grouping mode allows participants to make personal adjustments according to their physical condition. The event provides bicycle rental and accommodation add-on services. The first 600 online registrants also enjoy a mysterious early-bird gift. Round-island group participants enjoy exquisite souvenirs: commemorative cycling jersey, commemorative T-shirt, Mazu amulet, magic headband, luggage backpack, phone holder, commemorative medal, commemorative medal box, and completion certificate (printed online).