Soaring High: Chiayi City's Centuries-Old Swing Festival Takes Flight

A Thrilling Celebration of Tradition and Resilience in Taiwan

Taipei, March 30 – A captivating high swing festival, a vibrant testament to tradition, unfolded in front of a Taoist temple in Chiayi City, southern Taiwan, on Sunday. This annual event, boasting a history spanning over 200 years, continues to draw crowds with its unique blend of daring feats and deep-rooted cultural significance.

The festival's centerpiece is a towering 12-meter bamboo-frame swing. Participants, taking turns, experience the thrill of soaring through the air. The practice is believed to have its origins in China's Fujian Province during the Jiaqing Period (1796-1820) of the Qing Dynasty.

This unique ritual was later brought to Taiwan by the settlers in the Chiayi area, becoming a deeply ingrained part of the local culture.

Legend tells of the swing's purpose: constructed by locals in Chiayi as part of a ceremony to seek blessings and an end to the plague's outbreaks, the event is a tribute to Xuanwu, one of the higher-ranking deities in Taoism.

Held at Wudang Xuantiang Temple in Chiayi's Guanglu Village, the festival was originally held every leap year until 2008 when it became an annual event.

That same year, the Chiayi City government recognized its cultural importance and registered it as an intangible cultural heritage.

Chiayi City Mayor Huang Min-hui (黃敏惠) noted the enthusiastic participation of women this year. 2024 marks only the second time women have been allowed to participate in the swing competition.

The Chiayi City government also highlighted the construction of the 12-meter swing, which is built using a traditional method of bundling vines, completely avoiding the use of nails or screws.

The swing's seat is set 2 meters above the ground, with its arc allowing participants to reach heights of up to 10 meters, the city government stated.