Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards-Sustainability Action Awards SDG11:Gold
National Yunlin University of Science and Technology
Preservation, Cultural Interpretation, and Promotion of Temple Heritage in Xiluo
Xiluo is an important center of Taiwanese folk religion, where villages continue traditions such as peace-praying rituals, deity birthday celebrations, and year-end thanksgiving ceremonies. During the third lunar month, major Mazu pilgrimages, including the Dajia and Baishatun pilgrimages to Beigang, pass through Xiluo, making it a key gateway in Yunlin’s pilgrimage corridor. Since 2023, the USR project “From Spiritual Pilgrimage to Smart Tourism: Local Design for the Yunlin Pilgrimage Corridor” has documented local temple culture and established the “Xiluo Pilgrimage Trail” (SDG 8). The trail guides visitors to explore temple architecture, religious artifacts, and local faith stories while strengthening collaboration among temples, community groups, and local partners through regular dialogue and feedback mechanisms (SDG 17). The project also applies digital and interactive technologies to reinterpret temple culture, enhancing public understanding and participation (SDG 11). In addition, temple culture has been integrated into local school programs through place-based learning activities, fostering cultural identity and heritage awareness among students (SDG 4).