TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Baishatun Matsu (白沙屯媽祖) pilgrimage entered Changhua City on Tuesday (April 14), drawing 460,000 participants on its eight-day journey from Miaoli's Baishatun Temple (苗栗通霄白沙屯拱天宮) to Beigang Chao-Tian Temple (北港朝天宮). Two pilgrims fainted in the midday heat and were transported to local hospitals. The Changhua County Government (彰化縣政府) set up cooling stations and launched an electronic map to help pilgrims find shade and supplies.
The first incident occurred at 11:28 a.m. near Starbucks on Zhongshan Road (中山路), where a pilgrim fainted and was transported to Show Chwan Memorial Hospital (彰化秀傳醫院). A second pilgrim fainted at 12:02 p.m. near the YouBike station by Changhua Train Station (彰化火車站) and was taken to Changhua Christian Hospital (彰化基督教醫院). Officials said both individuals remained conscious and faced no life-threatening conditions.
The Changhua County Government opened its courtyard to provide air conditioning, rest areas and water for pilgrims. The Changhua County Environmental Protection Bureau (彰化縣環保局) launched an electronic map highlighting temples, public restrooms, recycling areas, tea stations and utensil cleaning facilities. The map also includes cooling points to help pilgrims find shade quickly amid high temperatures.
The bureau installed smart recycling machines at temples along the pilgrimage route, offering stored-value rewards for recycling PET bottles, aluminum cans or batteries. Taichung City police deployed a drone team to patrol the procession and provide aerial surveillance. Officials described the effort as a "land-air integrated" safety network to ensure public safety during the event.