Taoyuan's Centennial Longtan Dragon Boat Festival Kicks Off With Eye-Dotting Ceremony

Taoyuan City's Longtan District is gearing up for its annual "Longtan Returning Home Cultural Festival," a centennial tradition celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival. The festivities, set to run from June 19 to 21, will feature a dragon boat race with over 100 participating teams vying for the "Dragon King" title. Mayor Chang San-cheng officiated the dragon boat eye-dotting ceremony, marking the official start of the event.

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The Dragon Boat Festival's Returning Home Cultural Festival is a grand event in Longtan every year. The dragon boat competition will begin from June 19 to 21. Many people who work away from home will come back to see their hometown during this time. Friends who like Hakka culture can also take this opportunity to come to Longtan to experience it. The dragon boat races every year are very exciting. Government agencies, organizations, and schools, and various villages are all doing their best to achieve the best results, and I wish them another great achievement this year, surpassing their past achievements.

This year's dragon boat race continues the local tradition of kneeling oar strokes, with an upgraded metal fixture replacing the previous wooden design to enhance stability and safety for competitors on Longtan Pond. The total prize money has been increased to NT$1.83 million, promising a more intense competition.

Beyond the races, the festival includes a three-day summer market and cultural tours. Other highlights include a "Water Stilt Lion" performance, a Hakka music festival, and a fireworks display on the evening of June 20. The event aims to immerse visitors in the joyous atmosphere of the Dragon Boat Festival and showcase the rich Hakka culture of the region.

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The Longtan Returning Home Cultural Festival dragon boat race originated in 1915 and has been passed down for over a hundred years. It is one of the most representative埤塘 dragon boat races in the country. This year's competition continues the local unique kneeling oar stroke feature and simultaneously upgrades the kneeling oar fixing frame, replacing the old wooden design with metal material fixed to the hull to further enhance the stability and safety of the athletes as they compete fiercely in the waters of Longtan Pond for honor.

District Chief Deng Yu-cai emphasized that the festival, originating in 1915, is a significant occasion for the Hakka community, symbolizing reunion and homecoming. He invited the public to visit Longtan during the holiday to experience the dragon boat races and diverse activities, celebrating the charm of traditional festivals.

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For the Hakka people in Longtan, the Dragon Boat Festival symbolizes reunion and homecoming. The Returning Home Cultural Festival is held every year to connect emotions, inviting the public to visit Longtan during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, enjoy the dragon boat races, participate in diverse activities, and feel the charm of traditional festivals.