Sanxia locals, students revive dragon boat contest on street

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) Locals and students in Sanxia District, New Taipei, on Friday revived their traditional dragon boat competition by racing inflatable boats made from recycled materials on Sanxia Old Street -- a tourist attraction in the northern Taiwan city.

The third year of the land-based dragon boat competition featured 17 teams, mostly students and local residents, racing along Sanxia Old Street, a historic street dating back to the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945).

The competition was adapted from the traditional Sanxia dragon boat race, according to the Sanxia Minquan Old Street Business District Development Association, the event organizer.

The event dates back to the Qing Dynasty, when farmers raced boats in their free time. It later evolved into one of northern Taiwan's largest dragon boat races, held annually on the Sanxia River during the Dragon Boat Festival, the association said.

After the river silted up, it became too shallow for boat races decades ago, said Lin Feng-bin (林豐斌), chairman of the association.

Since 2024, the local business district association has sought to revive the tradition by holding the race on Sanxia Old Street, Lin said.

"Our business community is an extension of our culture," Lin said, adding that organizers hope the competition can both boost local business and preserve the area's century-old cultural heritage.

Friday's event consisted of two separate competitions. In the first, 10 teams raced inflatable dragon boats along a 260-meter stretch of Sanxia Old Street, stopping to eat a series of Taiwanese treats in a fixed order -- taro shaved ice, tofu pudding, pig's blood cake and golden croissants, Sanxia's signature pastry -- before completing the course in the shortest possible time.

Another seven teams competed in a separate contest featuring handmade dragon boats built from recycled materials, which were judged on their eco-friendly design and creativity.

The winner of the first competition was the three-member team representing Chajiao Elementary School (插角國小), which completed the course in 4 minutes and 8 seconds.

The Entertain Sanxia (娛樂三峽) team, made up of five Sanxia locals, won the dragon boat design contest and took home the top prize of NT$10,000 (about US$316).

Team leader Su Shiu-ching (蘇秀卿) said members spent a week preparing their dragon boat and decorated it with straws, plates, plastic bottle caps and other recycled materials collected from friends and family. They also searched for materials at recycling depots.

The Sanxia dragon boat event transforms the traditional race into a new format that boosts tourism and brings together local schools, businesses and the local community, the association said.