Believing that Mazu had shown herself, they returned back to Nanfang'ao and prepared to build a new temple for the goddess.

To circumvent Taiwanese restrictions on sailing to China, the convoy stopped at Japan before heading to Meizhou.

The move was highly controversial at the time; when the pilgrims returned, many were arrested, though most were only charged with light sentences.

[3][4] In 2005, a convoy from Nantian Temple docked at Xiuyu Harbor in Putian, located close to Meizhou Island, without prior approval from the Taiwanese government.

The twenty-one boat convoy had been attending an event in Nangan, Lienchiang, close to Mainland China's shores.