Celebrating Lantern Festival in Xiluo Township, Yunlin

Travel Date: 2024/02/10

Another year, another heartwarming visit to husband's family in Xiluo Township, Yunlin, and as always, the town is adorned with the enchanting glow of lanterns, casting a magical aura over its streets. While the charm of the old street remains ever-present with its timeless appeal, it's the vibrant lantern decorations that truly capture the spirit of the season.

As we stroll through the familiar lanes of Xiluo Old Street, we're greeted by the familiar sight of lanterns suspended above, casting a soft, colorful glow that illuminates the path ahead. Though much remains unchanged from years past, there's a comforting familiarity in the tradition of decorating the street, a reminder of the enduring beauty of simple joys.

But the real treat awaits at the park around Xiluo Bridge, where the lantern festival decorations come alive with a burst of creativity and color. From intricate designs to larger-than-life displays, there's something truly mesmerizing about witnessing the artistry of these lanterns up close. While some may be reminiscent of last year's creations, each one still manages to captivate with its unique charm and craftsmanship.

As we revel in the festive atmosphere, it's hard not to feel a sense of anticipation for the upcoming Lantern Festival events. While Xiluo's celebration may be relatively modest compared to larger cities like Tainan, where this year's biggest festival will be held, there's a special charm in its simplicity that never fails to delight.

And if the stars align and there are no unforeseen events, we're already planning a visit to Anping the following weekend, eager to continue our lantern-filled adventures and create lasting memories with loved ones.

I'll be sure to keep you updated on our upcoming escapades, but for now, here's to another year of cherished traditions, family gatherings, and the timeless magic of Lantern Festival in Xiluo Township, Yunlin.

Xiluo Old Street - Yanping Old Street (延平老街)

Step back in time as you wander through Xiluo Old Street, also known as Yanping Road, a bustling marketplace dating back over 170 years. Here, the echoes of trading activity still resonate, as this area once served as a vital hub for commerce and transportation. Admire the architectural beauty of the western-style buildings, a testament to Taiwan's history under Japanese rule, and immerse yourself in the charm of Baroque-style structures lining the streets.

Xiluo Fuxing Palace (西螺福興宮)

Pay homage to tradition at Xiluo Fuxing Palace, a temple dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of the sea. With origins dating back to the 18th century, this sacred site holds profound significance for locals and pilgrims alike. Marvel at its architectural grandeur and participate in rituals that have been carried out for centuries, connecting past and present in a spiritual journey.

Xiluo Bridge (西螺大橋)

Marvel at the beauty of Xiluo Bridge, particularly enchanting during the Lunar New Year when it comes alive with vibrant decorations, drawing visitors from near and far. Set against the backdrop of the tranquil river, this iconic structure serves as a symbol of unity and connection, spanning both physical and metaphorical divides.

Address:

1. Yanping Old Street: 648雲林縣西螺鎮延平路130號往東
2. Fuxing Temple: 648雲林縣西螺鎮延平路180號
3. Xiluo Bridge: 648雲林縣西螺鎮西螺大橋

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Yunlin Travel: Xiluo Old Street during Lunar New Year

Xiluo Old Street - Yanping Old Street (延平老街)

Xiluo Old Street, also known as Yanping Road, was a bustling market in early Taiwan, serving as a trading hub for rice, vegetables, and fruits, as well as a center for water and land transportation. Over 170 years ago, Xiluo Street was formed, and today, Yanping Road remains part of the core area of Xiluo Market Street. The Yanping Historic District encompasses Datong Road, Zhongxing Road, Xiuwen Road, Zhongshan Road, and Renhe Street.

Most of the ancient western-style buildings in Xiluo Old Street were constructed in the 1930s. During that time, the Japanese government promoted the construction of narrow-faced, single-room buildings, diverging from the traditional large-faced, wide-street courtyard structures. This architectural fashion influenced Taiwanese craftsmen under Japanese rule, and Yanping Road became a representative example of street house architecture during that era.

The buildings on Xiluo Yanping Old Street and Douliu Taiping Old Street belong to the same period. They feature Baroque-style architecture introduced during the Japanese occupation, with a history of over 60 years. Most of these two- or three-story buildings are constructed using mold printing, stone washing, and veneering bricks. The parapet walls with various shapes on the front of each house are the most striking features of these buildings.

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Xiluo East Market (西螺東市場)

Xiluo East Market, a traditional market with a history tracing back to the Qing Dynasty, used to be located near the ferry station in Zhuoshui River. Over time, a market gradually developed in the back streets of the city. The market building itself was constructed in the 1950s using leftover wood from the construction of Xiluo Bridge. The reinforced concrete section was completed in 1965. Due to the shift of the business district, the market experienced a decline. The East Market faced demolition disputes, but in 2007, the Luoyang Cultural and Educational Foundation initiated the "Revitalization of Stores in Xiluo Historic District and Reconstruction of Old Houses," which led to the preservation of the East Market. The restoration work was completed in 2011, and it was registered as a historic building in Yunlin County in 2010.

See also: Xiluo Soy Sauce Factory

Xiluo Fuxing Palace (西螺福興宮)

Xiluo Fuxing Palace is a temple that enshrines Mazu. Its origin dates back to 1717 when Minghai, a monk from Yongquan Temple in Fujian, came to Taiwan and enshrined the statue of Mazu from Meizhou, building a temple in Xiluo. In 1770, the old temple was demolished, and a new temple was relocated to the main street with the agreement of Xiluo officials. In 1800, renovations were made, expanding the temple's scale to two entrances, which were completed in 1874. Fuxing Palace is the first stop for Dajia Mazu to rest upon entering Yunlin, and it is the only temple where Dajia Mazu will drive back and forth.

Xiluo Theatre (西螺大戲院)

Xiluo Theatre has been known to me for some time, although I have never visited it myself. We visit Xiluo every year, but it was our first time exploring this theater. The Yunlin County government designated the theater as a heritage property in 2001, but its future remains uncertain. The theater is privately owned by the Lin family. Completed sometime between 1937 and 1940, this reinforced concrete and brick building replaced a wooden theater that was originally built in the 1920s. The new theater survived the war unscathed and flourished during the golden age of Taiwanese cinema in the 1950s. However, business declined in the early 1980s, and the theater was abandoned in 1988. Besides film screenings, Xiluo Theater hosted traditional puppet shows, opera troupes, concerts, and other performances, with a seating capacity of over 500 people. Nowadays, the theater is in ruins, and it is not possible to enter unless one is willing to brave a dilapidated structure. You can find a significant number of indoor pictures of this theater on the website spectralcodex.com

Xiluo Bridge (西螺大橋)

Xiluo Bridge is decorated each year during the Lunar New Year, attracting visitors to the park surrounding the bridge.

Address:

1. Yanping Old Street: 648雲林縣西螺鎮延平路130號往東
2. East Market: 648雲林縣西螺鎮延平路47號
3. Fuxing Temple: 648雲林縣西螺鎮延平路180號
4. Xiluo Theatre: 648雲林縣西螺鎮觀音街2 號
5. Xiluo Bridge: 648雲林縣西螺鎮西螺大橋

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Yunlin Travel: Xiluo Old Street and Fuxing Temple

Unlike on Monday (Lunar New Year's Eve), today the traffic on the highway was regulated by traffic lights. We had to wait for several minutes before joining the highway. Other than that, the traffic wasn't too bad before noon. However, the situation was different in the evening. The police were checking the number of people in each car before allowing them to enter the highway. During holidays, at least three people per car are required to enter. Additionally, the traffic in Tainan was very congested from Xiaying all the way to the city, so we decided not to drive on the highway there.

Today, we met more family members. We drove to Xiluo, where we had lunch with two aunts, uncles, and cousins. One of the aunts told us that there are plenty of decorations around Mazu Temple on Xiluo Old Street, so we left our son at their house for a while and went into town. It had been a long time since we visited the old street in Xiluo. It was quite crowded at that time. In the afternoon, we drove back to my parents-in-law's place, where another family came to visit.

Xiluo Old Street - Yanping Old Street (延平老街)

Xiluo Old Street, also known as Yanping Road, was an early Taiwanese market for the distribution and trading of rice, vegetables, and fruits. It was one of the important towns for water and land freight exchange. Xiluo Street was formed more than 170 years ago. Today, Yanping Road still constitutes part of the core area of Xiluo Market Street. The Yanping Historic District is covered by Datong Road, Zhongxing Road, Xiuwen Road, Zhongshan Road, and Renhe Street.

Most of the ancient Western-style buildings in Xiluo Old Street were constructed in the 1930s. During that time, the Japanese government encouraged the construction of single-room, narrow-faced, and wide-street houses, influencing Taiwanese craftsmen under Japanese rule. Yanping Road is considered a representative example of street house architecture from that period.

The buildings on Xiluo Yanping Old Street and Douliu Taiping Old Street belong to the same era. They are Baroque-style buildings introduced during the Japanese occupation. With a history of over 60 years, most of them are two- or three-story structures. The buildings mainly use mold printing, stone washing, and veneering bricks as construction materials. The most eye-catching feature of these buildings is the parapet wall with various shapes on the front.

See also: Douliu Taiping Old Street 

Xiluo East Market (西螺東市場)

Xiluo East Market is a traditional market with a history that can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty. The market area was initially located near the ferry station in Zhuoshui River, and a market gradually formed in the back street area of the city. The market building was constructed in the 1950s using leftover wood from the construction of the Xiluo Bridge. The reinforced concrete section was completed in 1965. Due to the shift in the business district, the market gradually declined. The East Market faced demolition disputes but was eventually preserved through the "Revitalization of Stores in Xiluo Historic District and Reconstruction of Old Houses" initiated by the Luoyang Cultural and Educational Foundation. Restoration was completed in 2011, and the market was registered as a historic building in Yunlin County in 2010.

Xiluo Fuxing Palace (西螺福興宮)

Xiluo Fuxing Palace is dedicated to Mazu and has its origins in 1717. A monk named Minghai from Yongquan Temple in Fujian came to Taiwan to enshrine the statue of Mazu from Meizhou and built a temple in Xiluo. In 1770, the old temple was demolished, and a new temple was relocated to the main street with the agreement of Xiluo officials. In 1800, the temple underwent renovations and expanded to have two entrances. The renovation was completed in 1874.

Fuxing Palace serves as the first stop for Dajia Mazu to rest after entering Yunlin, and it is the only temple where Dajia Mazu will return to and depart from.

Address:

1. Yanping Old Street: 648雲林縣西螺鎮延平路130號延平老街
2. Fuxing Temple: 648雲林縣西螺鎮延平路180號西螺福興宮

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