Published on September 5, 2025
Keelung, Taiwan – Keelung’s Mid-Summer Ghost Festival, now successful its 171st year, remains 1 of Taiwan’s astir iconic taste events. Held during nan seventh lunar month, nan show celebrates nan spirits of ancestors pinch a month-long bid of rituals, music, and lantern-lit ceremonies. Rooted successful some Taoist and Buddhist traditions, nan show is simply a powerful look of Taiwan’s belief heritage.
Key Dates for Keelung’s Ghost Festival 2025
August 22 | Opening of nan shrine doorway astatine Laodagong Temple |
August 23 | Lantern Lighting Ceremony astatine nan Zhupu Altar |
August 24 | Lantern Procession by surname associations |
August 25 | Water Lantern Parade and Release astatine Wanghaixiang Harbor |
August 26 | Public Pudu Ritual astatine nan Main Altar |
August 27 | Zhong Kui Ritual to nonstop spirits away |
September 22 | Closing of nan shrine door |
Major Rituals & Events
Lantern Lighting (Aug 23) | The show kicks disconnected pinch lanterns astatine Zhupu Altar, lighting up nan nighttime entity to guideline wandering spirits. |
Lantern Procession (Aug 24) | Surname associations transportation three-tier woody lanterns, symbolizing prosperity. |
Water Lantern Parade (Aug 25) | The parade features floats, people performances, and a creation by mascots from Keelung’s sister city, Kure, Japan. Lanterns are floated retired to oversea to guideline spirits. |
Public Pudu Ritual (Aug 26) | Public offerings see meat, vegetarian, and Western-style tables for overseas spirits. |
Zhong Kui Ritual (Aug 27) | A nationalist ritual astatine nan main altar, wherever spirits are bid farewell pinch offerings. |
Significant Festival Locations
Laodagong Temple | The bosom of nan festival, hosting nan opening and closing ceremonies. |
Zhupu Altar | The tract for nan opening lantern lighting ceremony. |
Wanghaixiang Harbor | The location for nan h2o lantern parade and nan merchandise of nan lanterns. |
Zhuputan Temple | A cardinal belief tract successful Zhongzheng District, Keelung, for backstage offerings. |
Visitor Tips
Best Time to Visit | Don’t miss nan Water Lantern Parade connected August 25 for nan astir spectacular event. |
Dress Code | Modest attire is recommended, particularly erstwhile attending rituals. |
Respect Traditions | Be mindful of nan rituals and debar interrupting nan offerings. |
Explore Local Cuisine | Visit Keelung’s celebrated nighttime markets to effort section delicacies. |
Boosting Tourism successful Keelung
The Keelung Ghost Festival is not conscionable a belief and taste observance. It is simply a important driver of tourism for nan metropolis and Taiwan. Every year, nan show attracts thousands of world visitors, including visitors from Japan, Southeast Asia, and beyond. As Taiwan’s tourism industry continues to retrieve and grow, nan show offers a unsocial opportunity to acquisition nan country’s rich | heritage, draws taste enthusiasts and those looking for an authentic, immersive experience.
The influx of visitors during nan show play provides a important boost to nan section economy, benefiting hotels, restaurants, section markets, and proscription services. The show has go a cornerstone of Taiwan’s tourism strategy, attracting visitors during nan traditionally quieter months. It besides helps beforehand Keelung arsenic a taste destination, boosting its floor plan alongside Taiwan’s different awesome tourer spots.
In summation to taste tourism, nan show besides contributes to nan increasing inclination of belief tourism, wherever visitors activity authentic taste experiences. The unsocial blend of Taoist rituals, people performances, and vibrant parades makes Keelung’s Ghost Festival a must-visit arena for those exploring Taiwan’s belief landscape.
Keelung’s Ghost Festival is overmuch much than a ceremony of belief traditions. It has go a awesome tourism event, drafting visitors from astir nan world. With its captivating blend of rituals, music, and vibrant parades, nan show highlights Taiwan’s taste richness and attracts a divers scope of visitors each year. This influx of visitors provides a important boost to Keelung’s section economy, benefiting businesses specified arsenic hotels, restaurants, and section shops.
The festival’s increasing fame not only elevates Keelung arsenic a taste hub successful Taiwan but besides helps beforehand nan country’s unsocial belief tourism offerings. As nan show continues to grow, it promises to stay a cardinal taste arena for visitors seeking authentic, immersive experiences successful Taiwan for galore years to come.