Our Lady of Wufengqi - Queen of the Chinese Martyrs on the mountain of Jiaoxi

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In the Jiaoxi mountains, in the north-east of Taiwan, the Wufengqi shrine recalls the help that five non-Christian hikers attributed to the Virgin Mary in 1980. The local Church welcomed the place as a space of prayer and pilgrimage under the patronage of Mary, Queen of the Chinese Martyrs.

Five mountaineers in the dark

On 9 November 1980, five members of a trekking group were delayed during the descent from the Sanjiaolun mountain. The road was difficult and the night had fallen. The five, who were not Catholics, claimed to have seen for a few seconds a female figure dressed in white and wrapped in light by the path. The experience helped them to guide themselves and they were able to come down safely.

The testimonies were later collected by the community of the sanctuary. The official chronicle of the Archdiocese of Taipei formulates the fact with caution: five people outside the Church claimed to have received the help of the Virgin to get out of danger. The later pastoral documentation identifies the site as the place of the demonstration and retains the names and interviews of the witnesses.

of the witness to the sanctuary

The mountain already had a Catholic presence thanks to the religious stretchers and a small cabin with an image of Mary that served as a refuge to the walkers. After the 1980 episode an image was placed in the remembered place and the pilgrimage began.

For years, priests and faithful gathered land and resources to raise a stable space of prayer. The current complex, which was completed in 2005, includes a circular Chinese-inspired church, a Marian Grotto, pilgrims' dependencies and access to the mountain path. The Archdiocese appoints a priest responsible for the sanctuary and celebrates there Mass, Eucharistic veneration, diocesan processions and pilgrimages.

Queen of the Chinese Martyrs

The patronal title links Wufengqi to the holy martyrs of China: bishops, priests, religious, catechists, families and children who testified to Christ in different periods of persecution. Mary is seen as Queen who accompanies the fidelity of the martyrs and leads the pilgrim to his Son.

The local date of November 9 keeps alive the memory of the help attributed to the Virgin. The sanctuary also receives non-Christian visitors, according to the very origin of history, and proposes silence, hospitality, prayer and care of creation.

Verified location

The sanctuary publishes direction 10, alley 91, Wufeng Road, Jiaoxi, Yilan. The official tourist data set of the Government of Taiwan places the place at 24.82964, 121.74725. The marker corresponds to the hillside sanctuary, not to the waterfall parking and the top lookout known as the Matcha Mountain.

Prayer to Our Lady of Wufengqi

Holy Mary of Wufengqi, Queen of the Chinese Martyrs, accompanies those who walk in the dark and lead their steps to your Son. It protects travellers, strengthens those persecuted by faith and teach us to serve also those who do not yet know Christ. Make us grateful custodians of creation and pilgrims of hope. Amen.

Sources consulted

• Archdiocese of Taipei: official chronicle of the event of 1980 and the sanctuary.
• Archdiocese of Taipei: Jubilee pilgrimage to the site of the demonstration.
• Archdiocese of Taipei: institutional record of Wufengqi.
• Official site of the sanctuary: identity, mission and direction.
• Report of the tenth anniversary: witness interviews and construction.
• Yilan County Government: history, opening of 2005 and description of the site.
• Taiwan tourist administration: official direction and coordinates.

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