Erlong River Introduction
According to legend, the Kabalan people of the Pingpu tribe once lived along the Erlong River, with each household's backyard directly connected to the river. Unfortunately, many children drowned in the river, prompting the Kabalan people to perform boat races to drive away the water spirits. Later, even after Han settlers came and mixed with the locals, this custom was preserved. During the Dragon Boat Festival, the eldest and most respected person leads a ceremony to pay homage and bless the boats, followed by worshiping the river god and then the exciting boat racing competition. Traditionally, the races take place in the afternoon, with only two teams participating: Qi Wulan and Zhouzaiwei. Villagers can take turns racing, but outsiders and women are not allowed to compete. The competition is unique, as it involves only gongs and no drums, and participants row while standing. Winning or losing is determined by the spectators and the team members themselves, but the villagers of Erlong often consider their side to be the true winner, leading to repeated races of ten or eight rounds that are hard to conclude. This intense competition is not only about pride but also for the "Safety Flag," which is considered the most sacred and auspicious by the villagers, reflecting their spirited nature of "losing face but not losing the game." Come join the festivities along the Erlong River during the Dragon Boat Festival! The Erlong Boat Race has now become a tradition of Erlong Village and deeply resonates with the villagers' hearts. The "Erlong Boat Race," held on the Dragon Boat Festival every year, has been passed down since the Jiaqing period and is not only historically rich but also the most local flavor-drenched dragon boat race. It has been selected by the Tourism Bureau as one of the twelve major folk activities in the country, making it a valuable cultural asset of Jiaoxi Township.