Taiwan’s nighttime dragon boat races put a modern spin on an ancient tradition

Taipei, Taiwan — Across Chinese diasporaRacing dragon boats is a tradition that dates back thousands of years.

But change is underway, most recently in downtown Taiwan where the races were moved to the night to take advantage of the cooler temperatures, refreshing breeze and the sight of the boats illuminated with LED lights running the length of the low vessel.

A drummer beats the rhythm behind the elaborately carved dragon head on the bow, while a navigator sits at the stern, where a tail rises to complete the appearance of the mythical animal, a traditional Chinese herald of prosperity and good luck.

It is primarily an amateur sport and teams are formed between groups of neighbors and co-workers. Emily Lin, 31, who works as a sales executive in Changhua County, said training sessions at a local high school are an excellent way to strengthen friendships outside of work.

“This dragon boat race allows us to meet, exchange and participate in something,” Lin said on Monday after the previous night’s qualifiers.

Daytime runs mean dealing with the intense sun of central Taiwan reflecting off the river, leaving you feeling unwell, said Chen Ta-tzung, a 28-year-old machine maintenance specialist.

“But at night you don’t have sun,” Chen said, with a little breeze making everything easier than during the day. “When we focus on rowing during the race, we cannot enjoy the beautiful scene. we paddle back, we can really enjoy the beautiful views,” she added.

This year’s races hold special significance for many participants and observers as they are the first after a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boat sizes vary and the number of oarsmen can range from ten to 20 or more. The festival usually falls in early June, close to the summer solstice, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

In recent decades, the sport’s popularity has spread throughout the world and standards have been imposed on rules and equipment, including the size of oars and requirements that the drummer, playing a role similar to the coxswain in collegiate and Olympic rowing, maintain a constant to knock.

“Running at night is special for paddlers,” said Huang Yi-kai, 21, who coaches stand-up paddleboard paddlers. It’s a refreshing experience.”

Dragon boat races are also held in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as around mainland China, where lax safety standards have occasionally led to fatal accidents. At least one person died after a dragon boat capsized in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing on Sunday, the local government said.