April 2014: One of the most significant festivals in Taiwan's events calendar, the annual Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrating its 35th year in 2014. Taking place annually on the fifth fay of the fifth lunar month in the small, historic town of Lukang, the festival aims to drive off evil spirits and encourage a peaceful and prosperous year. This year's event takes place on June 2, however celebrations start throughout the country as early as April 26.

The Dragon Boat Festival originates from an event which purportedly took place in ancient years when national poet, Qu Yan, decided to drown himself in the Miluo River to protest against the cruel government. People in the surrounding villages tried to rescue him by rowing down the river by boat and this search became the basis for the Dragon Boat Race.

Today, the Dragon Boat races are a key event with huge crowds gathering to watch the excitement. Teams compete to the sound of beating drums and rowers win by grabbing the flag at the end of the course.  Prior to the race, local people appeal to the Dragon King deity of Longshan Temple and the Water Immortal Deity of Tianhou Temple for protection and sustenance.

Many traditional customs accompany the festivities such as the drinking of Hsiung Huang wine and children are given fragrant sachets, both of which are thought to ward off evil spirits. A culinary highlight of the festival is eating the traditional dish Zongzi which is glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. It is said that the origins of this dish trace back to the story of Qu Yan when the local people who admired him dropped sticky rice triangles into the river for the fish to eat.

Known as one of Taiwan's best kept secrets, Lukang is just 40 minutes' drive from the bustling city of Taichung. The town itself boasts some of the most ornate temples on the whole of the island and is famous for creating superb traditional handicrafts including beautiful Taiwanese lanterns. The town is also known for its curiously curved streets, including the aptly named 'Breast Touching Lane' due to its narrow nature.

For more information, please visit: http://www.eventaiwan.tw/cal_en/cal_20020

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