Much-anticipated centipede parade back with lavish offerings for worshippers

Much-anticipated centipede parade back with lavish offerings for worshippers

2026-03-06

Every three years, around halfway through the first lunar month, Jiali Jintang Temple in Tainan holds the much-anticipated centipede parade as part of the Xialong Incense-offering Ceremony. This year, 108 kids role-playing deities took part in the 201m array, seated high up on a chain of wooden planks on wheels. Assuming the position of gods, they toss items of blessings to the crowd down below, sponsored by their own parents as offerings for good fortune. One kid even had gold jewelry worth NT$30,000 for lucky worshippers.

Young children are dressed to represent deities and seated on a chain of wooden planks, forming a centipede array. They toss items of blessings to worshippers on either side, who are waiting in anticipation. The youngest of the 108 role-playing kids is only 1-year-and-7-months old.

- The kid’s own mother was once seated on the centipede herself. We want the kid to be blessed with health so she’s easier to take care of.

- What did you toss down?
- Red envelopes and candies.
- This is your second time taking part. How do you feel?
- I think it’s really fun.

Every three years, Jiali Jintang Temple in Tainan holds the Xialong Incense-offering Ceremony, which features the spectacular centipede parade. A total of 108 children under the age of 12 are carried on a chain of wooden planks stretching 201m. Each kid represents one of the 108 Stars of Destiny. They toss various auspicious items offered by their own parents at the crowd of worshippers, which included red envelopes and lobsters in some years. Some parents even offered items so generous as genuine US dollar bills and gold jewelry and nuggets.

I prepared some gold jewelry and home appliances.

Worshipper
Centipede parade
I got the feeling that the kid was about to toss something to me. I was really so lucky. I’m just about to travel to Germany to visit my daughter, and I got a US dollar bill. It’s really so great to win a US dollar banknote. I’m keeping it as a memento.

The offerings get people excited about the centipede parade every three years, and parents of the lucky children who get to role-play a deity are equally happy to contribute to this Lunar New Year festivity.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #culture #nationalheritage #folkreligion #LNY

"真人蜈蚣陣"神童最小僅1歲7個月! 撒金項鍊.美金祈福

2026-03-06

3年一科的台南市佳里金唐殿，蕭壠香科醮典登場，眾所矚目的真人蜈蚣陣，今年由108位孩童組成，全長超過201公尺，這次參與的神童，年紀最小只有一歲七個月，還有神童家長，特別準備總價值3萬元的金項鍊、金豆子，霸氣祈福品，讓隊伍金光閃閃。

小朋友裝扮成神童，坐上蜈蚣車陣，兩旁信眾伸長手，滿心期待接到拋下來的祈福物品，今年蜈蚣陣中，年紀最小更只有一歲七個月，隊伍瞬間萌力十足。

“因為小朋友的媽媽之前就坐過了，想讓她保健康，比較好照顧”

- 丟了什麼東西
- 紅包跟糖果
- 第二次參加，心情?
- 我覺得很好玩

台南佳里金唐殿，每三年舉辦一次蕭壠香科醮典，當中萬眾矚目的真人蜈蚣陣，今年由108位孩童組成，全長超過201公尺，以往曾撒過紅包、龍蝦等，但這些還不夠看，這回更有家長準備美金、金項鍊、金豆子等，霸氣祈福品，讓隊伍金光閃閃。

“準備那些金飾還有一些家電這樣”

[[參與民眾]]
“我覺得看他，就是正要丟給我，真的很幸運，我剛去德國看我女兒而已，就撿到美金了，就抽到美金超棒的，要留著紀念”

撒出的祈福品，每回都比創新，不僅讓真人蜈蚣陣屢屢創造話題，參與的信眾也盼在新的一年，祈求保平安。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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One monkey enjoys its stolen snack outside while the other sits close by. When the homeowner came back with a long pole to scare them off, one smacked her on the head.

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Monkeys broke in home
It took my egg rolls out here to eat and had some chips too. Two inside were eating fish crackers.

This incident occurred on the foothills of Shoushan in Kaohsiung. The homeowner’s children were sleeping when the monkeys broke in and stole food. It seems more macaques have been coming down the mountain looking for food lately.

Homeowner
Monkeys broke in home
It’s been more common over the last two or three months. Even if we close the doors and take out the trash, they still come here to cool off.

Lin Mei-yin
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If a monkey breaks into your home, remember to actually open all the doors and windows, then hit the ground with a pole to scare it away from people and children.

Monkeys are often seen around here, as Shoushan is their natural habitat. Once, a driver in the area rescued a lone baby macaque and sent it to the Shoushan Zoo, where it recovered smoothly.

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If we see lone baby monkeys in the wild, there might be a community nearby, so it’s best for us not to get directly involved. In situations like this, we should just observe.

Macaques’ breeding season is from April to June, so the baby macaque was likely separated from its mother shortly after birth due to an emergency. Fortunately, the infant was safely rescued.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Hospital superintendent leads staff in exercising

Even with his busy schedule, MacKay Memorial superintendent Chang Wen-han still exercises regularly by walking at least 7,000 steps a day inside the hospital. Chang, who hopes to lose 5kg this year, says that regular exercise can improve mental and physical health.

Superintendent Chang Wen-han walks into a hospital staff meeting. After taking his place, he leads everyone through some exercises.

Stretching their arms and moving their waists, MacKay Memorial Hospital staff join in aerobics exercises. Dr. Chang hopes that everyone can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Chang Wen-han
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Sitting for long periods of time is not good for our staff, so we do some exercises before starting the meeting to improve our circulation and clear our minds.

Beyond leading staff through exercises, Dr. Chang also jogs daily. Years of experience have taught him the importance of fitness.

Chang Wen-han
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If you exercise at least 30 minutes a day for five consecutive days, the risk of sudden death would be far lower than those who do not exercise or exercise only one day.

Dr. Chang is an expert in emergency medicine and accustomed to high-stress situations. In recent years there has been a shortage of emergency room staff, so Dr. Chang offered advice to young doctors.

Chang Wen-han
MacKay Memorial Hospital superintendent
Saving lives in the ER lets you feel the joy of being a doctor. It inspires our spirit to keep growing. So, I encourage young people to come and help our world and do more. Emergency medicine is a great profession. You can do it!

- Climbing the stairs at an angle minimizes impact to the knees.

Sharing the best way to climb the stairs, Dr. Chang finds opportunities to exercise during ordinary days at the hospital.

Chang Wen-han
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I’ve calculated it, and between seeing patients and rounds, I walk about 7,000 steps a day at the hospital. I want to lose 4 or 5kg this year to meet my standards.

In the new year, Dr. Chang encourages everybody to exercise when they can and lead a healthy life.

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An MRT train is arriving. This one sports a colorful special livery, but the surprise doesn’t end here. There’s more inside.

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There are lots of cute designs inside the train car, such as this illustration of Mazu. Passengers can mirror her pose and take a picture interacting with her.

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Taiwan’s Down Syndrome Foundation has teamed up with Beigang Chaotian Temple for this year’s World Down Syndrome Day campaign. The visuals feature four deities worshipped at the temple, including Mazu, Wenchang Dijun, Nezha and the Tiger Deity. Drawings by children with Down syndrome are also incorporated and featured on the Taipei MRT, taken by millions every day.

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In Taiwanese culture, temples are a place of gathering. We’ve incorporated temple culture with the idea of co-existence. We’re also inviting Beigang Chaotian Temple’s Mazu to travel north to Taipei. We also have a special MRT livery, so that everyone—from office workers, to grocery shoppers, to students—all the people who primarily take the MRT as a means of transportation, will get to understand our idea of co-existence, and thereby naturally become aware of Down Syndrome.

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The Maltese is like an adorable snowball. It’s no wonder a woman in Kaohsiung wanted to play and cuddle with one. But her advances weren’t welcomed. The dog bit her, leaving her at the risk of going blind in one eye.

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Lai Ching-te
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I also hope the review will be conducted based on professional judgment and the needs of the country. In particular, I hope that lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, will demonstrate support for the Armed Forces and ensure that our national security is not discounted.

Amid rising political pressure and military intimidation from China, debate over Taiwan’s defense spending continues to intensify.

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