Mazu Stone Statue Introduction
Matsu is not only named after "Mazu," but since the completion of the world's tallest statue of Mazu, it has become a new landmark that visitors must visit when touring Matsu. On October 25, 2009, the Mazu Ascension Festival was held at the Mazu Temple in Magang, Nangan Township, where local dignitaries performed the official inauguration ceremony for the statue, which stands at 29.6 meters tall and is made entirely of granite. Many people may wonder why the statue is not exactly 30 meters tall but instead 29.6 meters. There is a reason behind this. The height of 29.6 meters perfectly reflects Matsu's total area of 29.6 square kilometers. The statue is composed of 365 pieces of granite, symbolizing safety every day of the year. This also expresses gratitude for Mazu's filial piety when she threw herself into the sea to save her father, shows the deep devotion of the people of Matsu to Mazu, and symbolizes that Mazu will protect the land and its people from generation to generation. Additionally, it strongly supports the tourism slogan emphasized by the Lienchiang County government, "Mazu in Matsu." Furthermore, the nearby Mazu Temple houses the only Mazu spiritual site and also enshrines the statue of Mazu, carried to the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, by the mountain climber Li Xiaoshi, which is not to be missed.
