Giant Mazu Statue Introduction
Standing on the coast, the stone statue of Mazu is located on the hillside to the right of the Tianhou Temple in Matsu. Completed in October 2009, in recent years, "Mazu in Matsu" has become the main promotional slogan for Matsu. The construction of the Mazu giant statue took more than 10 years from proposal to official completion, representing the devotion and determination of the Matsu people towards the Mazu faith. The Mazu giant statue is sculpted from 365 pieces of granite, symbolizing "365 days of peace every day," standing tall on a hillside near the coast, appearing even more majestic, with a compassionate expression that inspires awe. Surrounding the giant statue are twelve sculptures telling the story of Mazu's attainment of immortality. The lookout tower in front of the statue resembles a ship; from a distance, the Mazu giant statue looks as if Mazu is sailing on a ship across the sea, protecting the local residents. The height of the Mazu giant statue is 28.8 meters, originally corresponding to the total area of Matsu's four townships and five islands of 28.8 square kilometers. However, after the latest measurements, the actual area of Matsu is 29.6 square kilometers. Therefore, during construction, a lightning rod was added to the Mazu giant statue, increasing its total height to 29.6 meters.
