Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Fire, Faith and Folk Culture: Chiayi City's Chenghuang Night Patrol Draws Temples from Singapore and Eyes from Korea Post Date: September 11 Civil Affairs Department / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City's annual Chenghuang Night Patrol took place on September 11, bringing centuries-old religious traditions to life by reviving a Mazu pilgrimage tradition that had been absent for 105 years. Temples from across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, along with Lian Tian Temple in Woodlands, Singapore, joined the festivities, highlighting the event's growing cultural reach. The celebration continued into the evening with a carnival at the Central Fountain Circle, which officially reopened following renovations. The night patrol procession, spectacular performances, and large crowds came together against the backdrop of the fountain's colorful water display, creating a vibrant celebration of Chiayi's religious and cultural heritage. Mayor Huang Min-hui also joined the event to pray for the city's protection and for peace and prosperity for the people. Mayor Huang said Chiayi Chenghuang Temple, with more than 300 years of history, is an important center of local faith and a symbol of the city's cultural identity. The Chenghuang Night Patrol is more than a religious celebration — it carries generations of shared memories and emotional connections among Chiayi residents. The city government has been using innovative programming and diverse forms of presentation to connect traditional beliefs with contemporary urban life and keep Chiayi's cultural heritage relevant for a new generation. A highlight of the evening was "Phoenix of Fire," a finale performance by the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe combining fire, light, and acrobatics. The spectacular show brought traditional faith and contemporary performance art together, showcasing both Chiayi's rich cultural heritage and its vibrant urban energy. Mayor Huang noted that Chiayi's cultural traditions are also attracting growing international attention. At a tourism promotion event hosted by the city in Busan, South Korea, in June, a performance by jiajiang left a strong impression on Korean travel industry representatives. A delegation from the Busan Tourism Association subsequently returned to Chiayi during the Chenghuang Night Patrol to experience the city's religious traditions firsthand. "The more local, the more international," Huang said, emphasizing the city's strategy of using local culture to drive tourism. By bringing Chiayi's distinctive traditions to international audiences, the city hopes more overseas visitors will discover the enduring appeal of its folk beliefs and cultural heritage. Yang Chia-nan, chairman of Chiayi Chenghuang Temple, said the Chenghuang Night Patrol has been part of Chiayi's traditional folk and religious culture for more than three centuries. The annual event not only allows residents and visitors to experience the vitality of traditional faith, but also encourages younger generations to learn about Chenghuang worship and Chiayi's local heritage. Through the continued celebration of the Chenghuang Night Patrol, the temple and city government hope to pass on the spirit, traditions, and collective memories of this important cultural heritage from one generation to the next, while sharing Chiayi's unique cultural identity with the world.  

Chiayi City's Ancient Chenghuang Night Patrol Wins Two International Film Awards, Bringing Taiwan's Folk Culture to the World Stage Post Date: September 4 Cultural Affairs Bureau / Tourism and Information Department A film documenting the traditional "Chenghuang Night Patrol" at Chiayi Chenghuang Temple has received honors from two international festivals — the Theta Short Film Festival in Italy and the Film and Folklore Festival in Trinidad and Tobago. The awards were announced on September 4 alongside the launch of a new book, Pacifying the People and Seeking Blessings: The Chungyuan Festival and Chenghuang Night Patrol in Chiayi, showcasing Chiayi's distinctive folk culture to international audiences through both film and publication.   Representing Mayor Huang Min-hui, Deputy Mayor Chen Yong-feng noted that the Chiayi Chenghuang Temple Chungyuan Festival was officially registered as a designated municipal folk custom in 2021. Directed by Chiayi native Wang Shih-heng, the award-winning film takes viewers into the night patrol procession, traditional folk performance troupes, and the cultural landscapes of Chiayi's neighborhoods, capturing the deep-rooted traditions of Chenghuang worship. A series of festival events — including the Chenghuang Night Patrol and the traditional "Carrying the Cangue to Ward Off Misfortune" ritual (夯枷解厄) — will take place from the first day of the eighth lunar month. The city and temple warmly invite visitors from across Taiwan to join the festivities. The newly published book was produced by Chiayi Chenghuang Temple with support from the Bureau of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture and the Chiayi City Government's Bureau of Cultural Affairs. Building on a 2024 research publication, the new book explores the Chungyuan Festival rituals, the cultural heritage of East Market and the temple's nine major ceremonial groups, the Chenghuang Night Patrol, and annual birthday celebrations. The Bureau of Cultural Affairs will continue to promote folk tradition preservation through publications, workshops, guided tours, audiovisual documentation, and digital tools including AR interactive experiences and 3D modeling of historic artifacts.   The city is also embedding sustainability into its religious processions. This year, a reusable "Blessing Cup" system has been introduced to reduce waste, with Environmental Protection Bureau Director Sun Yi-tun noting that Chiayi Chenghuang Temple has become a key partner in the city's efforts to build a greener tradition that brings together faith, culture, and sustainability.

Chiayi City Breaks Ground on Major Sewer Expansion, Pushing Infrastructure East of the Railway to Serve a Growing City Post Date: September 3 Public Works Department / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City today broke ground on the second package of its Phase II wastewater infrastructure project, marking another major step in expanding the city's sewer network east of the railway and into the Huzi Nei area. Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui and Minister of the Interior Liu Shih-fang attended the groundbreaking ceremony and prayed for the project's successful completion. The project will connect approximately 3,241 households to the sewer system and construct one pumping station. It is scheduled for completion in March 2029, further extending wastewater services beyond the railway and laying a stronger foundation for the city's long-term urban development. Mayor Huang said Chiayi's wastewater infrastructure has advanced through years of challenges, from policy changes and difficulties attracting private investment to the impacts of COVID-19, labor and material shortages, and rising construction costs. Under the Phase I program, the city invested NT$4.369 billion from 2015 to 2024, completing 11 construction packages and connecting more than 15,000 households by the end of 2024 — exceeding the original target. She thanked residents and the city government team for their cooperation throughout numerous public briefings and coordination meetings. As more households connect to the system, residents are increasingly seeing the benefits of improved sanitation and cleaner neighborhood environments. "Wastewater infrastructure may be largely invisible, but its impact on everyday life is real," Huang said, emphasizing the city's commitment to keeping the project moving forward. The mayor also highlighted the importance of forward-looking infrastructure planning. Drawing lessons from the experience of Hsinchu and Southern Taiwan Science Parks, where industrial development outpaced transportation infrastructure, Huang urged the central government to move ahead with a rail connection between Chiayi HSR Station and the urban area. Chiayi's high-speed rail and conventional rail stations now serve more than 14 million passengers annually, while existing BRT services face growing demand. With the Chiayi Science Park and the broader Southern Taiwan Silicon Valley initiative accelerating, such a connection would create an integrated transportation network linking high-speed rail, conventional rail, the Alishan Forest Railway, and the wider Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan region. Interior Minister Liu said total investment in Chiayi's first, second, and third phases of wastewater infrastructure is expected to reach approximately NT$13 billion. The Ministry of the Interior will continue to support Chiayi's infrastructure development and provide as much assistance as possible through central government funding, she said. Public Works Department Director Yu Cheng-yu noted that the city has also upgraded alleys and drainage systems during household connections, including pavement and utility line improvements. Five locations have incorporated local characteristics into alley beautification projects, transforming once-unpleasant spaces into cleaner and more livable environments. Chiayi's wastewater construction efforts have received national recognition, with the city ranking No. 1 in its category for five consecutive years in the national evaluation of wastewater sewer construction. The Phase II program, with a total budget of NT$4.633 billion, includes 14 construction packages and is scheduled to run from 2025 to 2030. Central government funding accounts for NT$4.367 billion, with the city contributing NT$266 million. The program is expected to connect 28,818 additional households, bringing total sewer connections citywide to approximately 43,903 households. The latest package includes approximately 4.3 kilometers of major and secondary sewer lines, 17.2 kilometers of local connecting pipes, household connections, and one pumping station. Once completed, it is expected to increase Chiayi's overall sewer connection coverage by approximately 2.96 percentage points. The Huzi Nei area is one of Chiayi's key emerging urban districts, with new housing and a growing population. The project will improve sanitation, reduce wastewater pollution, and ensure that underground infrastructure keeps pace with above-ground development such as roads, parks, and housing — providing a stronger foundation for the area's continued growth.