Yanshui Fireworks Festival (鹽水蜂炮) | Taiwan’s Most Dangerous "Beehive" Festival (2023)
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The Yanshui Fireworks Festival, or Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival happens annually during Lantern Festival; the last two days of Chinese New Year celebrations. And despite annual multiple casualties, hasn’t been banned, just yet.
The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks festival has been given the title of the third-largest folk celebration in the world. It’s also Taiwan’s largest religious event. It has also been awarded the title of one of the world’s top 10 most dangerous festivals. And, one of the world’s top ten best festivals.
On par with Spain’s Running of the Bulls, tens if not hundreds of thousands of people flock annually to the small, traditional fishing town of Yanshui on the final days of Chinese New Year celebrations; also known as Lantern Festival (元宵节) for the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks. But it’s not speeding angry bulls that make this festival so intense and dangerous. Here, something arguably much less predictable than a charging bull is set off… Hundreds of thousands of exploding fireworks are set off into and aimed at the crowds of people who actually are… trying to get hit.
This festival takes place over two days; but its the final day that’s the most epic.
On the days of the festival, the whole town prepares to welcome the thousands that travel to take part. You can expect packed streets and fireworks being set off everywhere. There are also street vendors who will sell full protective outfits for those who came unprepared. A full suit will set you back around 2000ntd, or over 60 usd. The festival is no joke and you should genuinely be prepared at all times; not just when you’re standing near a wall of fireworks. Even if you keep far back, there is a chance at any point that something could hit you.
It’s recommended to have a full helmet, towel around your neck, cardboard protectors, many layers and fireproof coat, and duct tape to keep it all tied together.
Yanshui itself is a quaint little town. It used to be a fishing hub; the name itself means ‘Salt-Water’. Being one of Taiwan’s oldest towns, it’s well worth getting here early to have a stroll through its old streets, enjoy early-period buildings which were once merchant’s houses, and visit the Octagon Building (八角樓), a two-floor building constructed in 1847. The building is an interesting piece of architecture as the second floor is made entirely of wood.
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YANSHUI FESTIVAL ORIGINS
It has its origins in the Qing Dynasty. During Emperor Guangxi’s reign, a plague broke out and many hundreds were dying or falling ill. There was no western medicine at this time to cure these illnesses and it was normal to turn to deities for help. The people turned to Guan Gong (關聖帝君), the God of War. He instructed the people that on the final day of the Lunar New Year celebrations, they should circle the town with his statue. They should also set off fireworks along the way. It is said that after the townspeople did this, the town was cured of the disease and thus the tradition has been upheld annually.
Now, when fireworks pass through the town and (inevitably) hit both people and shops it is said to bring great luck and fortune in the coming year.
This is why people stand in front of the trucks that pump out thousands of fireworks; trying to get hit.
People devoted to religion also choose to build they own ‘beehives’. And this was our first experience of the Yanshui Festival as we headed to the main area, we got caught up in a street as one of the many was parading through on their way to the main area.
#yanshui #yanshuifestival #鹽水蜂炮
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