云林县

Why this place

Yunlin is a farming county on the west coast, and its Beigang is one of the most important pilgrimage centres on the island — the Chaotian Temple to Mazu draws enormous crowds, and the town lives around it.

What to see

• The Beigang Chaotian Temple, and the pilgrimage street of the town
• The Huwei and Douliu old towns, and the Japanese-era sugar factories
• The Yunlin coastal wetland and the 'Chenglong' wetland, with its birds and its own slow pace

What to eat

• Beigang is famous for its 'sesame oil' and its 'yan su' (puffed pastry)
• Yunlin peanuts and the local 'sweet potato' dishes

Best time

October–April; Mazu's birthday in the third lunar month brings the biggest pilgrimage