Baishatun Gongtian Temple's Second Guesthouse Inaugurated, Accommodating 800 with Panoramic Mountain and Sea Views, Praised by Magistrate Chung

The annual Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage in Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, attracted a record 460,000 participants this year, overwhelming the capacity of the original guesthouse. To address this, the temple’s management committee invested NT$520 million over more than three years to construct a second guesthouse, officially inaugurated on July 21 with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new facility, comprising two buildings (A and B), features modern accommodations including Taiwan’s only 'religious landscape capsule hotel,' significantly increasing capacity by approximately 800 beds to serve pilgrims and young backpackers. Magistrate Chung Tung-pin, Deputy Magistrate Chiu Li-li, and Department of Civil Affairs Director Wu Chih-wei attended both the blessing and inauguration ceremonies, touring the interior layout and modern facilities alongside Temple Management Committee Chairman Hung Wen-hua. Chung praised the building’s dual views: one side facing the sea with stunning sunsets, the other overlooking the majestic 'Three Terraced Verdant Peaks'—Mo-yen Mountain, Ba-jiao-dong Mountain, and Jia-li Mountain—enhancing both cultural and tourism development in the region. Chairman Hung explained that the Baishatun Mazu foot pilgrimage has become a major annual religious event, with participant numbers rising sharply from 300,000 to 460,000 in recent years. The first guesthouse, opened in 1999, had become insufficient, often fully booked during pilgrimage periods and holidays. After a proposal by the 10th committee, construction began on May 17, 2023, and was completed on July 21, 2027. The second guesthouse, a four-story building, has a total budget increased to NT$520 million, featuring 26 two-person rooms, 30 four-person rooms, 26 six-person rooms, multiple dormitories, and a unique 54-bed religious-themed capsule hotel—the only one of its kind in Taiwan—bringing total capacity to around 800. The temple plans a trial operation in collaboration with Yu-Da University of Science and Technology, with official operations and fee schedules to be announced later. The inauguration ceremony drew an unexpectedly large crowd, including Magistrate Chung, Tongxiao Township Mayor Chang Ko-hsin’s team, legislators Chen Chao-ming and Chiu Chen-chun, DPP Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung, Council Speaker Li Wen-pin, county councilors, representatives from the Taoist Association, Mazu Friendship Association, and sister temples from Kaoping and Hualien-Taitung. Staff had to quickly add extra seating. The event opened with a traditional lion dance performance by Qimeng Elementary School and songs by artist Lin Shan, including 'Pink Supercar,' creating a festive and spiritually resonant atmosphere. Magistrate Chung highlighted the guesthouse’s modern amenities and scenic views, noting its synergy with the famous Sunset Boulevard and its positive impact on Miaoli’s religious and tourism sectors. He emphasized that while Miaoli’s tourism is growing, with attractions like Shangshun Plaza in the north and Gongtian Temple in the south drawing large crowds, accommodation shortages remain a challenge. The new guesthouse helps alleviate this, and he welcomed private investment in five-star hotels. Chung also thanked the Tourism Administration for funding key infrastructure, including parking lot resurfacing and a new access road to the temple. The county and township governments are also planning to relocate the Ninth Public Cemetery to create a large bus parking area, improving transportation convenience for pilgrims. Legislators Chen and Chiu, along with DPP Secretary-General Hsu, praised Mazu’s divine protection over Miaoli and Taiwan, calling the new guesthouse a forward-thinking move. They anticipate that linking it with the Hao Wang Jiao scenic area will create a tourism corridor with immense future potential. After the ribbon-cutting, Magistrate Chung toured the first and second floors with Chairman Hung, experiencing the capsule hotel firsthand. He found it very comfortable and expressed confidence it would be well-received by visitors, signaling a promising future for local lodging development.