Ironman alert!The world’s only rafting Ironman race kicks off in Hualien on June 23

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

 

The widely praised Xiuguluan River International Rafting Triathlon will kick off on June 23 at the Xiuguluan River Visitor Center in Hualien. Registration is now open. This year, the event once again features the “Rafting + Running” two-discipline triathlon category and the team-based Iron Triangle group. It also offers a value-packed tour package to four major tribes along the East Coast. Whether you want to savor the delicious grilled flying fish at the Shizi Tribe, learn the millennia-old mountain-and-sea wisdom of the Amis hunters in the Shuilian Tribe, listen to the touching Kavalan stories at the Xinshe Tribe, or experience the rice and art culture of the Gangkou Tribe, all can be fulfilled. This allows participants and visitors to not only enjoy the thrill of rushing rapids but also immerse themselves in the uniquely distinctive tribal cultures of the East Coast, experiencing a one-of-a-kind rafting journey.

The rafting Ironman route begins with paddling down the Xiuguluan River, which boasts majestic canyons and bizarre rock formations, covering 11 kilometers before landing at Qimei Village. Then, racers sprint 12.6 kilometers along the winding Ruigang Highway (Hualien Route 64) to the finish line at the New Changhong Bridge Plaza, where they switch to bicycles for a 44-kilometer cycling leg through the wind-swept course along Taiwan Route 11, hugging the mountains and coastline. The route then loops back after passing through the ancient Zhongyong Tribe in Changbin Township, offering sweeping views of the magnificent Pacific Ocean and showcasing the most beautiful scenery of the East Coast. Racers will engage in a soulful dialogue with the mountains and sea as they ride against the wind. This year’s categories retain the individual “Rafting + Running” two-discipline triathlon and the team-oriented “Iron Triangle,” allowing participants who cannot bring their bicycles or who specialize in a single discipline to form teams and join in the annual East Coast rafting spectacle. The top three male and female triathletes, as well as the overall top three in the Iron Triangle category, will receive prize money of NT$5,000, NT$3,000, and NT$2,000, respectively.

 

The East Coast National Scenic Area Administration has also planned experience tours to four nearby tribes on June 22, allowing participants to unwind and soak in the tribal culture the day before the main event. At the Shizi Tribe, besides learning about the flying fish ecology and tasting delicious grilled flying fish, you can also learn trapping techniques, fishing with cast nets and lobster traps, and experience an authentic mountain-and-sea lifestyle. The Shuilian Tribe, a gateway to the East Coast from southern Hualien City, not only features a century-old elementary school in the village and remnants of hunting skills of the legendary giant Arigagai and tribal warriors, but also a thousand-year-old chieftain’s stone. Led by the Jilai Hunter School, you can experience hunter culture and millennia-old mountain-and-sea wisdom. The Xinshe Tribe, referred to in the Kavalan language as “a place to rest and nourish the body,” boasts the most expansive mountain-shaped rice terraces on the East Coast and a summer-exclusive beach called Paterongan (Bat-Hong-An). The reserved and tradition-cherishing Kavalan people share touching stories all around the Xinshe Peninsula, and you can also enjoy thoughtfully prepared Kavalan-flavored meals. The Gangkou Tribe features the stunning Shiti Ping Recreation Area, where the story of the maritime people begins. In the Shiti Ping Wetland Restoration Area, you can explore the raised paths of water terraces and go on a treasure hunt along irrigation channels, or visit the Mimaan (Diffused) Art Space workshop to experience Shiti’s handmade crafts and art.

 

Additionally, the third East Coast Travel Creators event features a very different route design compared to the previous two editions. In addition to the annual events and regular activities organized by the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration, it includes 22 new routes such as uploading travel videos and photos, sharing experiences, tribal activity participation, and challenge tasks. Everyone who participates has a chance to win a high prize of NT$6,000. The Xiuguluan River Rafting Triathlon is one of the point-earning routes. Those who register for the June 23 event will have the opportunity to win substantial prize money and various gifts. For more details, please visit the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration website: www.eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw.

 

 

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