Massive 640kg Dragon Boat's 'Commute Home' After Race Captured on Video
Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- A 640-kilogram dragon boat was carefully transported to its underground storage after a competition in Tainan, Taiwan.
- The intricate process involved a large crane, a flatbed truck, and precise maneuvering into a specialized basement facility.
- The operation required a team of workers and specialized equipment, highlighting the effort behind storing the large ceremonial boats.
The conclusion of the Tainan International Dragon Boat Race saw an unusual spectacle: the careful "commute home" of a massive 640-kilogram dragon boat. Social media buzzed after the "Tainan International Dragon Boat Race" Facebook page shared a behind-the-scenes video revealing the intricate process of transporting the ceremonial vessel.
Everyone thought the dragon boat would swim back to the Dragon Palace after the race? Sorry, this is a 640-kilogram big dragon, and its commute home is grander than a VIP's!
Contrary to whimsical notions of boats swimming back to mythical sea palaces, this dragon boat's return involved a coordinated effort. A large crane lifted the boat from the water onto a flatbed truck. The truck then transported it to the Anping Activity Center, where it was meticulously maneuvered into a spacious underground storage area.
The most challenging part of the operation was guiding the oversized boat into the basement. Workers had to precisely control the angle and downward pressure to avoid damaging the hull. This delicate "entry into the palace" required intense focus and caution from the entire team.
This is not moving a dragon boat, it's 'escorting the Dragon King back to his palace'.
Currently, both large and small dragon boats are stored in the Anping Activity Center's basement, the only facility in Tainan with sufficient underground space to house up to 12 boats. The transport process itself is a significant undertaking, requiring two flatbed trucks, one crane, twelve "dragon boat movers," and two supervisors. As one netizen quipped, "The athletes compete for speed, but the staff compete for strength behind the scenes." The effort involved in bringing the 640-kilogram dragon boat "home" after work is indeed a specialized task.
The dragon boat's commute home is more tiring than mine.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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