Wudang's Xuan Wu statue arrives in Taiwan

Taoist monks in Taiwan welcome the Xuan Wu statue, from Wudang Mountains in Hubei province, to the Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan, Oct 15, 2014. [Photo/wudangshan.gov.cn]

The 600-year-old Xuan Wu statue of Wudang Mountains in Hubei province, arrives at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan on Oct 15, to start its tour around the island. God Xuan Wu, the Northern Emperor, is one of the highest-ranking Taoist deities.

Shu Tao, director of Wudang Administration for Cultural Heritage and Religious Affairs, signs agreements for the handover of the relic with chief executives of Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan, respectively, at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan, on Oct 15, 2014. [Photo/wudangshan.gov.cn]

A welcoming ceremony was held at the airport to greet the arrival of Xuan Wu's statue, which gathered 108 Taoist monks from Taiwan. Three agreements for the relic's handover were also signed between the Wudang Mountains and Taipei, Taichung and Tainan, respectively, during the ceremony.

A religious ceremony is held in the Hsinchuang Gymnasium in Taipei on Oct 15, 2014. [Photo/wudangshan.gov.cn]

The statue's first stop was Hsinchuang Gymnasium in Taipei where two religious ceremonies were held. Many Taiwan people waited in the streets to worship Xuan Wu during its journey to the gym.

Xuan Wu is expected to tour around more than 30 temples in Taiwan during its 21-day trip in the region. In addition, a forum on Xuan Wu faith and Taoist culture, a cross-Straits painting and calligraphy exhibition, and a Wudang photography contest will be held from Oct 16 to 17.

Contributed by Wang Liang and Jiang Yuanbo from Wudang Mountains Tourism Bureau