The tranquil Taiwanese town of Fenglin, celebrated for its unhurried pace of life, has embraced its unique identity by introducing an unusual attraction: snail racing.
Rather than resisting its slow rhythm, this community of around 10,000 has made it central to its appeal.
These distinctive races serve a dual purpose: they celebrate Fenglin’s commitment to a sustainable lifestyle, valuing healthcare, longevity, and strong community ties, while also aiming to boost tourism.
The initiative comes in the wake of a powerful earthquake in 2024, which significantly dampened travel to the surrounding areas.
“The earthquake two years ago had a relatively big impact on tourism because people are worried an earthquake may happen again,” explained 32-year-old resident Hsu Lu.
She added, “Many people have left Hualien because of earthquakes,” referring to the frequently seismic county.
In this context, the humble snail offers a novel, albeit gradual, method to entice visitors back to the region.
Fenglin has associated itself with snails since 2014, when it joined the Cittaslow international network of small cities focused on quality of life and locally sourced foods.
Cittaslow’s symbol is a snail carrying an assortment of buildings on its back.
The designation of a slow city seemed to fit Fenglin, whose population has shrunk threefold over the past few decades.
Today, it is also an example of Taiwan’s “super-aged” society, with more than 20 per cent of its residents older than 65.
To help reinvigorate local tourism after the April 2024 earthquake, which killed 19 people and injured more than 1,100, Fenglin residents decided to host a snail race the following month, said organiser Cheng Jen-shou.
“We thought that our event could attract people, and that would be a small help,” he said.
This year, the town held the third edition of the race over the May Day holiday.
