This year’s Ghost Festival in Taiwan came to a close this week. But the end of the festival also saw the return of the pole-climbing Chiang-Ku ceremony, which brings both thrills and risks.
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Taiwan’s Ghost Festival takes place during the seventh month of the Lunar Calendar, and the Chiang-Ku ceremony is one of the festival’s highlights. Chiang-Ku is a climbing competition that symbolizes the sharing of food and abundance with both wandering ghosts and the poor. The competition takes teamwork and requires one of the team members to reach the flag at the top of a platform about thirteen meters high. The poles leading to the top are slathered with grease, adding another level of difficulty.
After a three-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is finally back. This time it’s being held in Toucheng Township in Northern Taiwan’s Yilan County, instead of its usual location in the southern township of Hengchun due to damage caused by recent typhoons.
Typically, two cranes are brought in to stand by in case of climbing emergencies. This year, however, one of the two cranes was used to hold camera crews, drawing complaints from some participants. One participant lost his grip on the pole and was left hanging upside down from a rope tied to his leg for nearly ten minutes awaiting rescue. The participant suffered no injuries in the end but also expressed his view that having only one crane for emergencies isn’t enough.
Organizers of the event say that there were medical and safety professionals on site to ensure safety. But one thing’s for sure: if you want to try your hand at this slippery competition, make sure you have a firm grip on your physical condition.