I know what you’re thinking: a high heel church? This must be like the peachoid in House of Cards. Cast out your preconceptions of a shoddy red heel with peeling paint, however, because Chiayi’s High Heel Wedding Church is anything but.
The High Heel Church in Chiayi (高跟鞋教堂) lies on the outskirts of Budai Township in Chiayi County and is one of the most inconspicuous yet truly wonderful attractions of Chiayi as the church is hidden inside a fenced park, parallel to a massive all you can eat oyster reshao 熱少 (local Taiwanese grill).
Once inside the park, visitors can hear twinkling music and will be able to glimpse the colorful and delicate glass structure of the high heel wedding church. Stunning though it may be in the daytime, the church looks even better at night when surrounded by floating pink balls of light on the shallow pool.
While the highlight of the park is, obviously, the heel, the entire space is filled with many colorful decorations, including pumpkins and carriages, that really highlight the romantic Cinderella theme, although hopefully it’s the Disney version.
Background of High Heel Wedding Church
Interestingly, the Chiayi high heel wedding church was not created for the benefit of couples to take copious Instagrammable wedding photos: it was actually constructed to commemorate the Blackfoot-Disease that has left many women in the Southwest Coast of Taiwan with amputated feet. (Note: this disease is endemic in the region and is caused by high consumption of arsenic from artesian well water.)
Costing nearly $23.2 million NTD (nearly about $712,000 USD), the 17 meter tall glass high heel with 320 pieces of glass is therefore symbolic of the loss felt by these women.
Are There Toilets at High Heel Church?
While there are toilets right by the High Heel Wedding Church, they don’t have toilet paper so that you’ll have to come prepared with your own. The toilets also mostly consist of squat toilets; you may want a recap on how to use a squat toilet like a pro before you go.
And, if you’re visiting at night, you may want to know that you’ll be using the toilet in the company of others…
Chiayi High Heel Wedding Church Location
- Open: 24/7
- Address: No. 6, Haixing St., Budai Township, Chiayi County
Overview
Chiayi’s High Heel Wedding Church may be where couples gather for picturesque wedding photos, but it’s a great excursion for a wander among pretty lights if you’re in the area, especially at night. Just remember to get your night mode on the phone to work. Here’s my phone trying to keep up:
What else to do in Chiayi?
- Three Little Pigs Leisure Farm
- Yu Shuen-feng Peanut Factory
- Democracy Turkey Rice
