Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Lukang — Watch the races and explore heritage crafts

▲ The Lukang Dragon Boat Festival series runs from now until June 12, featuring ongoing folk activities and traditional craft shows. The image above shows traditional dough figurine art. (Photo provided by Changhua County Government)

By HowToTrip Travel Centre / Compiled report

With less than a month to go until the Dragon Boat Festival — one of Taiwan’s three major traditional holidays — various events such as dragon boat races and zongzi-making activities will be held across the country. The 36th annual Lukang Dragon Boat Festival series, officially launched yesterday (30th) at the Fuking Granary by Changhua County Government, features an international dragon boat invitational, festive folk activities, and traditional craft performances. Locals and visitors are invited to explore Lukang’s cultural heritage and historic highlights.

This year marks the 36th edition of the Lukang Dragon Boat Festival. Changhua Deputy Magistrate Lin Tian-fu noted that the festival is the longest-running, most renowned, and largest-scale Dragon Boat Festival event in Taiwan. The program balances tradition with innovation, and since Lukang was selected for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ “Taiwan Tourism Calendar” in 2012, earning titles like “Land of Smiles,” “One of Taiwan’s Top Ten Small Tourist Towns,” and hosting the “2012 Taiwan Lantern Festival,” it has grown into an international tourist destination — further elevating its traditional festivities to a global level.

Lin Tian-fu pointed out that from now until June 12, the Lukang Dragon Boat Festival series will host an international dragon boat invitational, festive folk activities, and traditional craft performances. Highlights include fixed-location festival events, Lukang food banquets, Lu Ban Banquets, the Changhua County Cultural Heritage & Nostalgia Industry Exhibition, performances of traditional northern and southern music theater, street performances, heritage site tours, street parades, and various specialty industry booths.

To promote local industries in Taiwan and Changhua, the county government has partnered with the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Small and Medium Enterprise Administration for the first-ever “Prosperity in Tradition – OTOP Gift Fair during the Dragon Boat Festival.” Eighty premium vendors from across Taiwan will showcase their products at Lukang Wenwu Temple Plaza, featuring a Changhua souvenir section, a gourmet gift zone, handicrafts, lifestyle goods, and special promotions.

Additionally, five museums in the Changbin area are offering free admission, including the Taiwan Glass Museum, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital Health Park, Brand’s Health Museum, Ribbon King Textile Culture Park, and the Tatung Soy Sauce Museum.