Taiwan Pilgrims Arrive in Fujian Province

Forty-five people from Taiwan Province sailed for 20 hours on rough seas before arriving at Meizhou Island in East China's Fujian Province to pay respect to the Goddess of the Sea.

This is the first group of Taiwan pilgrims to arrive in the island and pay their respects to the Mazu. They came from Yilan County in six fishing boats.

The pilgrims were warmly received by the board of directors of the Mazu Temple. They are also going to visit other temples in Putian City.

Mazu Temple in Meizhou Island is believed the ancestral Mazu temple and one of the largest in China. One million travelers visit the temple each year, including more than 100,000 from Taiwan. Many Taiwan compatriots cherish the visit to the temple as their biggest wish in their life. Most of the Taiwan compatriots have to come to the island via Hong Kong and Macao. The pilgrims expressed the hope for direct navigation across the Taiwan Straits.

There are more than 3,000 Mazu temples in Taiwan with over ten million followers.

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