By KHT Staff
The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival (鹽水蜂炮) in Tainan’s Yanshui District (鹽水區) will begin on the morning of March 2, kicking off two days and two nights of religious processions and fireworks displays as locally built “rocket fortresses” enter their final preparation stage, according to organizers and local officials.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency reports that in recent days, streets in Yanshui have filled with temporary canvas structures known locally as “beehives” (蜂巢), which house the rocket fortresses (炮城) that will be ignited as temple palanquins pass during the procession. When fired, tens of thousands of rockets can launch simultaneously, creating the dense, hive-like effect that gives the festival its name and dramatic reputation.
Staff at Yanshui Wumiao (鹽水武廟) told reporters the tradition dates back to an epidemic outbreak in the area centuries ago. Residents are said to have consulted Guan Sheng Dijun (關聖帝君), asking for divine guidance. A procession carrying the deity’s statue was organized, with firecrackers set off along the route to drive away evil spirits and disease. As the outbreak subsided, the ritual was repeated annually in hopes of continued protection.
Over time, the ritual merged with Lantern Festival celebrations and expanded into the modern two-day, two-night event. After the opening ignition on the 14th day of the first lunar month, temple palanquins tour the town until the early hours of the 16th day, while residents push out rocket fortresses to “intercept” the procession and fire volleys of rockets toward the moving palanquins in a symbolic act of blessing.
The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival has since become one of Taiwan’s most distinctive cultural tourism events, drawing large domestic and international crowds eager to experience the intense spectacle. Rocket fortress designs vary widely each year, including elaborate themed installations produced by temples, businesses, and community groups.
A resident surnamed Yen (顏) said multiple fortresses this year are being designed around the Year of the Horse zodiac theme. Most installations have now entered their final preparation phase, with beehive structures visible throughout Yanshui’s streets. Organizers also urged visitors not to open or inspect the installations themselves due to safety concerns.
