The city of Meizhou in South China's Fujian province threw a big parade on Sept 23 to wish its most famous daughter luck as she embarked on a 17-day tour of Taiwan.

The figure being borne on a sedan chair across the city was not a pop star or celebrity actress, but a statue of the Chinese sea goddess Matsu.

Matsu is widely worshipped in Taiwan and other coastal regions in southern China, and the golden statue's visit to Taiwan has become an annual tradition.

The statue first left its home temple in Meizhou to travel to Taiwan in 1997, and caused a sensation.

More than 10 million Taiwan residents came to see the statue in one of the 35 temples it visited, and Matsu's annual trip to Taiwan is still among the most popular cultural exchange activities between the mainland and Taiwan.

This year will be Matsu's 20th anniversary tour, with the statue set to visit 89 temples in 10 different cities and counties in Taiwan. An estimated 1 million people are expected to come visit the statue.

There are roughly 16 million Matsu believers in Taiwan, accounting for two thirds of its population.

A grand parade is held in Meizhou in South China's Fujian province to escort the golden statue of Matsu to start its tour of Taiwan on Sept 23. [Photo/Xinhua]

The annual visit of the Matsu statue to Taiwan has become one of the most popular cultural exchange activities between the mainland and Taiwan. [Photo/Xinhua]