The annual important Matsu pilgrimage around the border originally started in March, but this year due to the impact of the new coronavirus epidemic (also known as Wuhan pneumonia), the departure was postponed until the early morning of last Sunday, and it was not until 7/13 that he returned to the palace. Although the official Facebook and YouTube have relevant information to roughly know where Baishatun Mazu is currently, there is still no way to know accurately, or even what the route will be. In fact, a team of Matsu GPS volunteers have developed this free app “Baishatun Mazu GPS Real-time Positioning”, which is available in iOS and Android versions. It not only directly tells you the location of Matsu and the expected route, but also provides information about bathing and accommodation, shared transportation, meals and cold water, etc. You can also chat with other netizens in real time to learn about the latest situation.
Baishatun Mazu GPS real-time positioning app introduction
After opening the App, the map location where Matsu is currently located will be displayed at the top, and the real-time chat room will be shown at the bottom. If you have any questions or doubts, you can ask them, and there are many enthusiastic personnel who will help answer them. There is also a pinned message at the bottom of the chat room about where Matsu is:
Click on the positioning function in the lower right corner of the map, and it will display the current distance between you and Matsu. I am in Japan now, so that is why it is so far away:
Slide down the slider at the top of the chat room to view the entire map, and Matsu’s route, where he will stop, etc. are all marked, which is very convenient:
There are also label information above the chat room such as transportation sharing, bathing and accommodation, meals and cold water, recruitment and missing persons, etc. Those in need can take a look. The only thing to pay attention to is transportation sharing. Please be sure to take precautions for your own safety:
There are also FAQs. Some basic questions about Matsu pilgrimage can be found here, such as the date of pilgrimage, the time of each point on the return trip, where the medical team is, etc. If you have any questions, you can search here first. If you really can’t find it, go to the chat room and ask other people:
The historical path of the previous three years is also provided:
As shown in the picture below, the incense route in 2019 was nearly 300 kilometers back and forth:
If you want to navigate directly to Matsu’s current location, you can find “Enable Navigation” in the function menu in the upper left corner, but this will also open Google Maps, so your phone must also have this App:
Supplementary information
- App name: Baishatun Mazu GPS real-time positioning
- Nature: Free
- Download page:App Store / Google play
Source: KOCPC Chinese