Snail-paced "banana sports car"！Kaohsiung’s Qishan B-Car has a top speed of just 5 km/h

Reporter Li Anjun / Taipei-Kaohsiung telephone interview

Kaohsiung’s Qishan is home to the world’s only B-Car, which has a top speed of just 5 km/h, a maximum load capacity of 80 kg, comes with a sunroof and four doors, and is powered by manpower—meaning its speed can be "adjusted on the go" according to the runner's pace. This B-Car is not a BMW or BENZ, but a human-pulled vehicle shaped like a big banana (Big Banana—double B), which moves as the person runs, hence also called a "double B sports car."

▲ Elderly man pushing a cart, oh no, it’s Qishan native and leader of the “Taiwan Youth Banana” band, Old Wang, pulling the B-Car to set up a stall. Passing cars can’t help but take a second look at this one-of-a-kind B-Car in the world. (Photo / Provided by Wang Chi-wei)

Rememberwhen the “Mayday” band ate bananas on stage when they won a Golden Melody Award?That scene? Symbolizing friendship as “close as bananas,” you might not know that Mayday has a Facebook friend called the “Taiwan Youth Banana” band. “Taiwan” youth “love ba”nanas—the two bands have performed on the same stage before. The “Taiwan Youth Banana” emphasizes “bonding (like bananas) together,” also highlighting the importance of friendship. But the more important mission of these Qishan natives is to carry on the legacy of the delicious local bananas, encourage young people to take over the planting, and launch new creative cultural and creative industries.

▲ Mayday, the biggest winners at the Golden Melody Awards, ate bananas on and off stage to support banana farmers. They and the “Taiwan Youth Banana” are Facebook friends.

This B-Car was co-conceived and made by “Taiwan Youth Banana” leader Wang Chi-wei (Old Wang) and a group of young people. Whenever the adorable “banana car” goes out to set up a stall, both local and visiting children get super excited, eagerly helping the older kids push the cart. Some unaware passersby even shout, “Is the Goddess of Mercy riding a banana car on patrol?” Many small stall vendors also ask, “Where was this made?” hoping to make their own to attract crowds. Plenty of foreign tourists visiting Qishan also praise it as cool.

▲ Children get extremely excited whenever the banana car is rolled out, all rushing to help the older kids push it. (Photo / Provided by Wang Chi-wei)

Old Wang laughed and said it took them a year and one month to finally unveil the B-Car. “We often sold banana-themed cultural creations and banana cakes as mobile vendors in the old street, but vending like that was very inconvenient. Aside from the hassle on rainy days, most items had to be transported by car, and space limitations meant we couldn’t display things neatly or attractively. We started thinking about what kind of cart shape would be both eye-catching and creative. Actually, no need to think too hard—it had to be shaped like a ‘banana.’”

▲ The “Taiwan Youth Banana” band markets Qishan bananas through music. Even Japan’s NHK came all the way to interview them. They’re the pride of Qishan. (Photo / Provided by Wang Chi-wei)

“But curvy bananas are hard to shape. Capturing the right aesthetic and striking the perfect balance of proportions really tested everyone’s skills. Especially figuring out how to peel the banana skin to show off its deliciousness—that really had us racking our brains. But we finally pulled it off, and the response has been great!”

Currently, the “sports car” sells items such as banana cakes, banana towels, handmade banana cookies, banana maltose cookies, banana T-shirts, banana fruit wines, banana notebooks, adoption contract banana goods, and more—all cultural and creative products. Old Wang laughed and said there are free postcards and stamps in the cart, and he always encourages the children who come over: “Write a card to your grandparents!”

▲ The banana car displays banana vinegar, banana cookies, jam, T-shirts… plus free postcards, which Old Wang will mail for you.(Photo / Provided by Wang Chi-wei)

“Most of the children are brought out to play by parents from small families. Their grandparents are back in their hometowns and often feel very lonely. Whenever I get the chance, I encourage the kids to write postcards to the elderly. That’s how we can ‘connect’ and foster human bonds. Some kids don’t even know how to write their grandparents’ names, so I tell them to just write ‘Grandpa Grandma,’ and the parents help fill in the address. I hope the distance between the children and the elderly can start to shrink with this cart.”

Banana Car service hours: Weekdays 14:00-19:30 at Qishan Zunhuai Hall (No. 3 Datong Street); weekends 09:00-20:30 at Qishan Old Street (opposite the Qishan Farmers’ Association, at the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Yongfu Street).

It’s worth mentioning that thanks to the efforts of Old Wang and other Qishan locals, there is a “Hope Banana Farm” in Banpuza, Guangfu Village, Qishan. The land is provided free of charge by elderly farmer Lü Ming, and 20 young volunteers are responsible for farming and management. The elders teach the young to grow bananas, hoping to “replant” the once-famous title of the banana kingdom and reconnect the younger generation with the land they’ve lost touch with. Currently, 417 banana plants are grown using natural farming methods, and the plants have grown from “babies” to “teenagers,” with harvest expected next February.

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