YANSHUI BEEHIVE FIREWORKS FESTIVAL 2023

WHAT: Yanshui Fireworks Festival 2023
WHY: The most dangerous fireworks festival in the world
WHEN: 4th & 5th of February 2023
WHERE: Yanshui, Tainan, Taiwan
COST: Village Celebration – Just turn up!

This infamous festival returns in 2023 after sadly having to cancel in 2020 and 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

If you don’t know the history behind this event, you’re in for a brilliant story… This event begun in the early 1800’s, when Asia was in the midst of a devastating Cholera pandemic.

The villagers of Yanshui asked the Chinese Deity of War, Guan Gong, to visit their village and ward off the terrible disease.

Each year, a holy chair is paraded through the streets of Yanshui, believed to be the chair of the deity, followed by a trail of fireworks and firecrackers alight, set off by the crowd and believed to take away bad luck.

Locals get suited and booted into fire-proof clothing, helmets, and gloves to prevent serious damage whilst jumping through the trails of fireworks and crackers.

Fireworks veterans light up handheld fireworks, and aim these at the crowd, showering them in sparks. You certainly must be fearless to attend this event!

This festival certainly holds significant cultural importance and is an important practice for so many each year and no matter how dangerous, it brings hope to the village.

If you are lucky enough to be able to attend this historic festival, see here for hotels and B&B’s close by…

This is surely one of the most daring and spectacular cultural festivals in the world, and should definitely be on your list of potential destinations if you are an avid traveller.