College student Nuan-Nuan Chen is thrilled when she’s paired with her crush, the aloof Chih- Hsun Hsia, on a summer field project. Their assignment—to study religious practices in the Taiwanese town of Daxi—turns out to be more than research: for Chih-Hsun, it’s a return to the hometown he left behind seven years ago.
As the community prepares for its grand temple fair, Chih-Hsun slowly reconnects with childhood memories, old friends, and his estranged father. Handmade moonlight cakes, spinning top contests, and urban legends all infuse this vibrant story by one of Taiwan’s leading comic artists. Through festivals, rituals, and traditional games, Rites of Returning weaves a moving tale of reconciliation—between past and present, self and family, memory and home.