A ceremony to commemorate the 1,063rd anniversary of Mazu's birth was held on Meizhou Island in Putian, Fujian province, on May 12. Check out the video to experience the local historical culture and unique folk customs!

The most influential Goddess of the Sea in China, Mazu is at the heart of many beliefs and customs in the country's coastal areas and Chinese communities worldwide.

The religion consists of numerous beliefs and customs, including oral traditions, religious ceremonies and folk practices. In 2009, Mazu beliefs and customs were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Mazu is worshipped on both sides of the Strait. The belief is widely shared in both Fujian and Taiwan, and Putian is believed to be the birthplace of the goddess. Statues of the goddess in Putian and Taiwan face each other across the Strait.