The Pingtung Dragon Boat Race: 39 Teams Vie for NT$900,000 in Prize Money

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

Now in its 21st edition, the “2012 Pingtung County Dragon Boat Competition,” combined with the Black Marlin Cultural Tourism Festival, will take place on June 22–23 between Donggang Bridge and Jinde Bridge on the Donggang River. This year, a total of 39 teams and over 1,000 participants have registered. In addition to the NT$200,000 first prize for the men’s open division, NT$100,000 for the women’s open division, and NT$70,000 for the government agency division, the total prize money amounts to NT$900,000.

This year’s Pingtung County Dragon Boat Competition will be held on the Donggang River from June 22–23. In recent years, the event has grown in scale by combining with the Black Marlin Cultural Tourism Festival. This year, the number of participants has exceeded 1,000, with a total prize pool of NT$900,000. In addition to the men’s and women’s open divisions, there are also high school and middle school divisions for both men and women, with first prizes of NT$30,000 and NT$20,000 respectively.

Among the 39 competing dragon boats, eight were commissioned by local groups and residents in the Donggang area years ago and built by master shipbuilder Hong Quanrui. Following ancient customs, the Pingtung County Government held an eye-dotting ceremony for the eight boats on the 9th. Under the guidance of ritual masters, cinnabar was applied to ten specific parts of each boat — the forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, dragon body, and tail — completing the ritual.

● Read more: “The First Tuna” Has Arrived in Port: Pingtung Black Marlin Cultural Tourism Festival Kicks Off on May 5

http://goo.gl/1H230