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“Get in the Sedan Chair!” “Let’s Go!” Yehliu Cultural Festival of Jumping into the Sea with Gods

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One day in 1820, fishermen of Yehliu found a Fujian-style sailboat drifting alone on the open waters, so they boarded the sailboat to check, and found no one on it. However, they found a statue of Kai Zhang Sheng Wang and Chinese fir and limestone, building materials, in the cabin. After having a discussion, people resolved to welcome the god to their fishing village. They used building materials found on the boat to build a temple called Baoan Temple to bless fishermen in Yehliu a safe journey when they went fishing on the sea.

Several decades later, a boat from Fujian struck a reef and sank. After the tragedy, Kai Zhang Sheng Wang entered the body of a spirit medium to indicate fishermen to offer sacrifices to pray for peace, not allowing the remains of victims to be brought to the fishing port. Kai Zhang Sheng Wang further indicated that He would go on an inspection tour around the port at Lantern Festival in person. Following the instructions of the God, young and strong residents in Yehliu carried the God’s sedan chair on January 15 of the lunar calendar, jumping into the cold sea water to expel ghosts and monsters at the port. This was the origin of jumping into the sea with gods in Yehliu.
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Come in Water and Go in Fire
The tradition of jumping into the sea with gods in Yehliu has over one hundred years of history, and it is a unique activity at Lantern Festival at Taiwan’s Northern Coast. The tradition enjoys the fame with Sky Lantern Festival in Pingxi and beehive fireworks in Yanshui as they are all intangible cultural heritage. The four rituals of jumping into the sea with gods in Yehliu include “going on an inspection tour with gods on the sea,” “bringing back a whole cabin of catches,” “jumping into the sea with gods,” and “stepping on the bonfire with gods to expel evils and adversities.” Participating followers have to jump into the water with a god’s sedan chair first, and run toward the bonfire after they go ashore. Therefore, we say “come in the water, and go in the fire.” It is the most distinctive cultural festival in Wanli District.
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Jumping into the sea with gods is an annual occasion in Yehliu. Residents and fishermen in Yehliu support the event by donating money and contributing their labor to plan it. It is an important activity that enables local people to work together as a team. The event of jumping into the sea with gods starts early in the morning, and followers and sacrificial service chiefs carry out the blessing ceremony successively in Baoan Temple. In front of the temple, you can see the spectacular performances of the lion dance of Yehliu Elementary School, beiguan music club, and god’s generals. It is difficult to take your eyes off the performances, and you can hear the sounds of camera shutters one after another as well.
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The temple workers carry the eight gods’ sedan chairs to the front of Baoan Temple. After they carefully place gods’ statues in the sedan chairs, they hang firecrackers on the sedan chairs. Strong and brave men carrying the sedan chairs move forward while firecrackers are being set off. For a moment, the sounds of firecrackers resound across the sky, going through the cloudy and rainy sky to the Heavenly Palace.
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Going on an Inspection Tour with Gods on Sea
The lead boat sets sail with people’s blessings, kicking off the event of going on an inspection tour with gods on the sea. Over ten fishing boats follow the lead boat in order and dash out Yehliu Fishing Port amid the loud noise of firecrackers. During the one hour of the inspection tour, all fishing boats circle around Yehliu Fishing Port three times to pray for plentiful catches and safety.
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Bringing back a Full Cabin of Catches
After an inspection tour on the sea, fishermen will open their cabin and crane up a full load of catches to the truck before they return to Baoan Temple. This means that fishermen will get a full load of catches on their each voyage this year. Next, the city mayor will host a charity auction for catches, where competitive bidding can be seen at the scene.
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Jumping into the Sea with Gods
 The highly anticipated event of “Jumping into the Sea with Gods” starts in front of Baoan Temple as people shout “get into the sedan chair” and “let’s go” loudly. Strong and brave men in Yehliu carry the eight gods’ sedan chairs for Kai Zhang Sheng Wang, Mazu, General Zhou Cang, the Lord of Land and so on, and they brave the cold and dash into the fishing port amid the loud cheers of people. The scene is exactly the same as the one when Kai Zhang Sheng Wang went on an inspection tour at the fishing port over one hundred years ago. The ceremony is held to expel ghosts and spirits, praying for favorable weather and safety.
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In recent years, the event has changed with the times: people are welcome to join the activity of jumping into the sea with gods, and a design competition is held. After gods’ sedan chairs arrive at the fishing port, 100 people are welcome to participate in the event of jumping into the sea. The year 2024 is the year of the dragon, so quite a few participants wear clothing with the style of the dragon to celebrate the year of the dragon and pray for safety in the coming year.
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Stepping on Bonfire with Gods to Expel Evils and Adversities 
After strong and brave men carrying gods’ sedan chairs jump into the port, they have to swim across Yehliu Port with the sedan chairs. After they come ashore, they are ready to step on the bonfire. When it is time, the shouts of “get into the sedan chair” and “let’s go” echo throughout Yehliu, and strong and brave men carry gods’ sedan chairs and step on the bonfire that has been sprinkled with salt and rice barefooted to purify calamities on their bodies. After doing this for three rounds, they complete the ritual of “coming in the water, and going in the fire.”
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Being led by the beiguan music club, gods make a pilgrimage procession around the fishing port to protect Yehliu. The cultural festival of jumping into the sea with gods originated from a mysterious unmanned boat drifting on the sea over one hundred years ago. After Kai Zhang Sheng Wang was brought ashore by local fishermen, He entered the body of a spirit medium to go on an inspection tour at the port to protect the safety of Yehliu Fishing Port. Residents in Yehliu, in return, pass down the tradition. The event of jumping into the sea with gods is not only a special activity at Lantern Festival, but also a shared memory of residents of different generations in Yehliu.
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Educational and Entertaining Journey for Parents and Children! Colored Slides and the World of Dinosaur are Waiting for You to Explore.
It's the breaking news for dads and moms. After the Circular Line is open to the public, it's more convenient for parents and children to go on an outing. About popular attractions ideal for parents and children, you should read the information here! "Banqiao 435 Art Zone" has integrated art with life; there are a large lawn and a white sand area in the outdoor field suitable for parents and children; in the art zone, the exhibitions, the Taiwan Toy Museum, and the Wetland Story House are good for educational and entertainment experiences; at noon, parents and children can have lunch at the "Liu Biju Chaozhou Casserole Porridge"; put the rice into the casserole, and boil and simmer the rice with broth, the broth tastes mellow and has abundant ingredients; eating porridge is the best way to warm up on the days when it's getting colder. After lunch, parents can carry on the journey with their children. The signature in Zhonghe, "Yuanshan Park", has a vast area that is facilitated with the inclusive playground equipment for everyone; especially the super-long colorful slides, adults and kids will spend the day to their heart's content. And, the "Dinosaur Park" under the Huazhong Bridge, there're numerous dinosaur art installations as well as 3D paintings; the fans of dinosaur should never miss the place. At night, it's suggested to visit the most popular place of the local, "Lehua Night Market", which is packed with a lot of best-selling snacks and delicacies as well as cloth and shoe shops, a very satisfying destination for shopping and food.Banqiao 435 Art ZoneBanqiao 435 Art Zone is a public space where arts and life are intimately woven together; it is divided into two major themes: Family-Friendly Arts Fantasy Land and Artists’ Dream Base. There are 7 exhibition halls in the Art Zone, and a series of classes and exhibitions are also designed to offer entertaining and educational experiences for tourists and families. The “Wetland Story House” offers exhibitions and detailed information on wetland ecosystem, providing a comprehensive experience-learning environment. Taiwan Toy Museum, on the other hand, displays nearly three thousand pieces of rarely seen toys from past to present, from Taiwan to around the world, as well as several hundreds of traditional kid toys, educational games, and a temple festival game area; in addition to experiencing with your own hands and playing all the educational games, there are also many kinds of outdoor toys and games. If you are interested in going to exhibitions, there are now currently several dozens of artists stationed in the Art Zone, who come from diverse backgrounds including performing art, contemporary visual art, three-dimensional sculpture, designing, and music.info.Location and Address: No. 435, Zhongzhen Rd., Banqiao District, New Taipei CityContact Phone Number: 886-2-29690366Opening Hours: 09:00~17:00 Monday through Friday; 09:00~18:00 Saturday and Sunday; Art Zone Closing Times: First Monday of every month (but will be open on a public holiday).The traffic information from the Banqiao MRT Station to the Banqiao 435 Art ZoneAt the Banqiao MRT Station, take Bus No. 310, 307, 810, 857, 786 and get off at "Banqiao Junior High School, Banqiao 435 Art Zone".Banqiao 435 Art Zone's informationLiu Biju Chaozhou Casserole PorridgeThere're many different methods to cook porridge; Guangdong porridge and Taiwanese salty congee are the common cuisines for general customers. In recent years, the casserole porridge becomes popular in Banqiao due to the use of Taitung Guanshan Emperor Rice as the main ingredient; particularly, not until the guests make an order, the rice won't be put into the casserole. The rice is cooked with sea tangle broth and the nut sauce, which is a paste made of ground cashew nuts, pine nuts, peanuts, etc.; as a result, the broth tastes an extraordinary mellow and refreshing flavor, and it's strongly recommended by the gourmands who love porridge.info.Location and Address: No. 3, Mingquan Rd., Banqiao Dist., New Taipei CityContact Phone Number: 886-2-29528813Opening Hours: Monday ~ Thursday 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:40/ Friday 11:30-14:00, 17:30-23:10/ Saturday and Sunday 11:30-14:00, 17:00-23:10The traffic information from the Banqiao 435 Art Zone to the Liu Biju Chaozhou Casserole PorridgeTake the Bus No. 310, 307, 810, 857, 786 and get off at Banqiao. Walk toward Xinzhan Road for about 8 minutes.Liu Biju Chaozhou Casserole Porridge's informationYuanshan ParkIt doesn't take a trip abroad to find featured parks. In New Taipei City, there are numerous featured parks. Located in Zhonghe, Yuanshan Park is a kid's wonderland and playground; it's a must-go destination for mom and dad to come with their kids! About an area of 3 hectares, the big park is facilitated with the inclusive playground equipment, the PU floor is safe protection. Built along the terrain, the tunnel net and climbing wall are the place to train kid's hand-foot coordination; besides the general type swings, there are bird's nest swings and diaper swings available for kids in different ages to enjoy the fun going up and down; the giant sandpit with a vine-shaped hand-foot bathing basin aside, it's convenient to wash the hands and feet after playing in the sand. The biggest highlight is absolutely the colorful terrazzo slide with a super-long length! Whoosh~~ a sort of speedy sliding enjoyment. Next to it, the grass slop is the best for exciting skating; people should remember to bring the skateboards.info.Location and Address: Ln. 455, Yuanshan Rd., Zhonghe Dist., New Taipei CityContact Phone Number: 886-2-29603456 (Public Works Department, New Taipei City Government)Opening Hours: It's open 24 hours a day.The traffic information from the Liu Biju Chaozhou Casserole Porridge to the Yuanshan ParkTake the Circular Line and get off at the Zhongyuan Station. It takes a 15-minute walk to reach the destination.Yuanshan Park's informationDinosaur ParkUnder the Huazhong Bridge, there's a large Dinosaur Park; since the Huazhong Bridge 3D paintings were launched in 2014, Taiwan's only one Dinosaur Park next to Riverside Bike Path has been planned. It's a place of amazing art installations for taking amazing photos, including little tyrannosaurus, triceratops, little stegosaurus, dinosaur egg, and a hanging pterosaur overlooking the area. (The photos are provided by the Water Resources Department, New Taipei City Government)info.Location and Address: Under the Huazhong Bridge, Zhonghe Dist., New Taipei CityContact Phone Number: 886-2-22482688 (Zhonghe District Office)Opening Hours: It's open all year round.The traffic information from the Yuanshan Park to the Dinosaur ParkTake the Circular Line and get off at the Qiaohe MRT Station. It takes about a 5-minute walk.Dinosaur Park's informationLehua Night MarketWhen evening creeps in and the street lights go on, the Lehua Night Market turns Yonghe into a city of the night. Foods from all over the world are gathered here, from Taiwanese oyster pancakes and fried chicken to Hong Kong curry fish balls, Japanese oden, and Thai papaya salad. Visitors cannot help but eat as they stroll through the market. One of the oldest stands is a place called Hsuehua Shaved Ice. It serves a meticulously prepared dessert with simple but hearty toppings.info.Location and Address: Yongping Road, Yonghe District, New Taipei City (Near the metro's Yongan Market Station)Contact Phone Number: 886-2-29282828Opening Hours: 17:00-01:00The traffic information from the Dinosaur Park to the Lehua Night MarketTake the Circular Line and get off at the Jing'an MRT Station. Transfer to Zhonghe-Xinlu Line and get off at the Dingxi MRT Station. Walk along Yonghe Road for about 10 minutes.Lehua Night Market's informationReturn Trip Traffic InformationWalk along Yonghe Road to reach the Dingxi MRT Station, and transfer to either MRT Line that reaches your home.Circular Line MAP
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Take Your Pets for a Walk- the Qinqingchongwu Park in Xindian
Living in the city jungle, people can easily feel pressured by the dense buildings and thus feel more anxious. Your pets spend most of the time at home and they have to step on the hard paved road even when taking a walk outside. Dogs are always waiting for their owners to get off from work and come home, and we can only spend so much time with them. As a result, we strongly recommend you take your pets out on weekends! There are actually quite a few parks for pets in New Taipei City, and the park we are now introducing is the "Qinqingchongwu Park" in Xindian. At this Park, you will find a spacious area of grass land and dogs no longer have to be on the leash here. They can run at the Park freely to finally have a relaxing time!The "Qinqingchongwu Park" in Xindian is the first park for pets built on the floodplain. The Park has a great area of 300 hectares. The "Qinqingchongwu Park" in Xindian is located between the east side of Bitan and the Sunshine Sports Park. The original purpose of building a riverside park is to provide people with a multi-functional place where they can do exercise. You and your family and friends can have fun, walk around, do exercise, fly a kite or just chill to appreciate the beauty of the river on the grass land at the river bank. Now, you can bring your pets to the Qinqingchongwu Park to play and exert energy. How great is that!The best part of a riverside park is that it has a great area of green grass land. You will feel comfortable in this spacious space simply by staring at it! At the entrance you can see a clear sign telling you the Park is separated into 2 sections, a section for small dogs and the other for larger dogs. Pet owners can choose to enter either section based on the size of their pets. This way, dogs can move freely in a safer environment. Besides, we put dog poop bag in the Park. Therefore, you don't have to worry about leaving dog poop in the Park if your dog gets to excited and poop. Use the plastic bag to pick up the poop and throw it in the near garbage can. Be a public-spirited person and pick up after your dog to leave other users a clean environment.Do Not Forget to Read the Notices. Everyone Should Work Together to Maintain the Park for Pets!Let's get ready to have fun at the Park! Notices are written on the door at the entrance. Remember to read the notices before coming into the Park and be a responsible owner to follow the rules. Let's maintain this Park for pets together!There are 2 layers of devices on the fence at the entrance/exit at the back. The devices are established to prevent dogs from losing controls and rushing into the Park when they get too excited. Therefore, remember to put a leash on your pets when going in and coming out from the Park. And pay attention to see if there is any dog coming out! There are dog poop cleaning bag and garbage can at the entrance. Please clean up after your dog to maintain a clean environment and prevent your dogs from stepping on the poop while running.The section for small dogs is a little bit smaller than the other section. Benches are put in the section for you to rest. Devices, such as tire obstacle training devices, wooden plank slopes, jumping platforms, are set up in the section for larger dogs for them to exert their energy. When first seeing the device, dogs might get a bit nervous and afraid, owners should be patient to guide and encourage your dogs. After some practices, your dogs will start to enjoy it!Your dogs spend most of the time at home and it is rare for them to see one of their kinds. Bring your dogs to the Park would be a great choice. The Park offers enough space for dogs to run on the grass land to train their physical strength, and dogs can meet different people and dogs at the Park. Dogs will smell each other and play together. It presents a great chance for dogs to have some social activities. Remember to observe the body language of your dog nearby and provide intervention as appropriate.When the weather is good, bring your dogs to the "Qinqingchongwu Park" in Xindian and have fun! At the Park, you pets can finally be free from the leash and step on the comfortable grass land. They can run and be relaxed freely. Their smile will be the most beautiful scene. Near Places to Go Bitan Scenic Area The Yinhe Cave Hiking Trail
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