The Shuizhen Water Festival Kicks Off This Weekend in Changhua to Pray for Fortune

Written/Compiled & Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel Life Network

Changhua County’s annual cultural event—the Taiwan Water Running Festival—is set to take place on November 10–11 at the source of the Bapu Weir in Ershui Township, Changhua. On the opening day, November 10, the event will include a gratitude ceremony, a weirhead ritual, a blessing opening ceremony, and the Bapu Weir Legend Night Show. In addition, on that day the water flow of the Bapu Weir will be controlled to allow participants to run through the water channels and “run the water” to pray for fortune. There will also be a free guided tour of the Bapu Weir, offering the public an in-depth look at the towns along the Bapu Weir basin and a chance to experience local rural culture.

The Bapu Weir was dug in 1709 by the ancestor Shi Shibang and took ten years to complete. Due to a lack of expertise in water conservancy, attempts to divert water repeatedly failed until the legendary Mr. Lin provided guidance on using earthwork techniques. Stone baskets were used to channel the muddy waters of the Zhuoshui River into the Bapu Weir, irrigating the eight fortresses of the thirteen fortress areas in Changhua. Later, Huang Shiqing dug the “Fifteen Villages Weir,” ultimately creating a complete water conservancy irrigation system for the Changhua Plain. This nourished the lands north of the Zhuoshui River and fostered the rich cultural heritage of Changhua.

This year’s “2012 Taiwan Water Running Festival—The Legend of the Bapu Weir” also features the “Encounter Mr. Lin Time Tunnel Exhibition Hall” to showcase the influence of the Bapu Weir on the Changhua Plain. Other activities include street performances, a stone inkstone cultural and creative industry exhibition, a happy community industry market, a community talent carnival, and a specialty agricultural products exhibition. During the event period, there will also be a “stone basket catch luck” game at Mr. Lin’s Temple, using the stone baskets guided by Mr. Lin’s earthwork technique for a ring toss game. Those who succeed will win prizes.

In addition, on November 10, a guided tour of the Bapu Weir is also planned. The itinerary will start from Changhua Railway Station, visiting the Ershui Water Diversion Park along the way, joining the Taiwan Water Running Festival & Bapu Weir Legend activities, touring the Encounter Mr. Lin Time Tunnel Exhibition Hall and Dongzuo Stone Inkstone Art Museum, tasting pomelos, and visiting the Xihu Taiwan Grape Industry Culture Museum, among other stops. The entire activity is free, and registration is now open. Event details can be found at the website: 2water.mmhot.tw.

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