Admire the rain-soaked trees of Yilan and forage for ingredients along the way!“The Curry Fun Run” is aromatic and healthy

Hit the road in the cold winter season and sweat it out in Yilan’s beautiful mountains and waters. Along the route, enjoy the stunning view of rain-soaked trees and discover healthy local ingredients. Taiwan’s most bustling fun run — the 2nd Vermont Curry Fun Run — took place at the Yilan Xingjian Organic Dream Village. It featured “Youth Group” and “Family Group” categories. Participants ran through country lanes, admiring the scenic beauty of rain-soaked trees in Xingjian Village, listening to the gentle flow of the Annong Stream, harvesting carrots from the fields, and then cooking up a delicious curry using all the gathered ingredients. A participant from Tucheng District, New Taipei City, said, “Although it was the busiest fun run, it was also the most memorable one!”

In addition to the multi-sensory running experience, the organizers planned a series of fun costume contests that amazed the crowd. Some runners showed up in soldier outfits or playful dinosaur costumes, with one even winning first prize in the costume contest, becoming the highlight of the day. There was also the “House Curry Eating Challenge,” where participants had to finish 1.5 kilograms of curry rice. Last year’s “Vermont House Curry Fun Run” created a huge registration buzz when it came to Taiwan, and this year’s event was equally popular. Runners raced across the countryside, worked in the fields, and enjoyed generous servings of curry, filling the venue with the irresistible aroma of curry — turning it into a delightful rural curry feast.

The curry fun run took place at the Yilan Xingjian Organic Dream Village with “Youth Group” and “Family Group” categories. Runners dashed through country lanes. (Photo provided by the organizer)

Japanese curry expert Daisuke Kobayashi noted that the Curry Fun Run has been held in Hokkaido, Japan, for 32 years. This year marks its second edition in Sanchong Township, Yilan, Taiwan. Unlike traditional fun runs, participants were tasked with collecting various ingredients, similar to an adventure game, and later each group cooked their own curry together — making it more fun than your average run. He also expressed heartfelt thanks to Sanchong Township in Yilan for providing such a beautiful environment as the racecourse, and to all the co-organizers for their strong support, which ensured the smooth running of the event.

Chen Chin-teh, Magistrate of Yilan County, also mentioned that Sanchong Township in Yilan has long been known for its beautiful mountains and waters, and the rain-soaked tree scenery is famous far and wide. Xingjian Village has developed organic agriculture for over 15 years, and its rice and curry are a perfect match. He expressed deep gratitude to the organizers for recognizing the area and holding such a meaningful event in Sanchong Township for two consecutive years. He hopes the event can be held here every year, spreading the delicious taste of House Curry and the beauty of Yilan’s great outdoors far and wide.

The 2nd Vermont Curry Fun Run concluded successfully, spreading the joy of curry to every household. In the “Youth Group,” participants on different routes collected ingredients along the track — those on the 5km route received curry blocks, the 4km group got onions and potatoes, the 3km runners were responsible for pork, and the 2km group harvested carrots from the field. The “Family Group” also brought back organic carrots from the fields, thanks to the joint efforts of parents and children. Hundreds of families cooked their own unique curries on-site, enjoying the scenery under the rain-soaked trees, savoring the fruits of their labor after the run, and sharing the happiness with their loved ones under the green canopy — creating the most beautiful scene of the day.

After reaching the finish line, each team cooked up a delicious curry using the ingredients they had collected, enjoying a satisfying post-race meal. (Photo provided by the organizer)