Dragon Boat Festival Wooden Clog Parade Approaches: Taichung's Wanhe Temple Selects 150kg of Hemp Leaves

As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, Taichung's Nantun District is gearing up for its signature folk event, the 'Walking on Wooden Clogs to Awaken the Carp' street parade. Today, Wanhe Temple invited dozens of volunteers to sort approximately 150 kilograms (330 jin) of hemp leaves, which will be cooked into authentic hemp soup and offered free of charge to visitors.

Unlike the common dragon boat racing tradition, Nantun District hosts the 'Walking on Wooden Clogs to Awaken the Carp' carnival. In collaboration with Wanhe Temple, 150 kilograms of jute hemp were specially ordered from local farmers. Harvested early in the morning despite the rain, dozens of temple volunteers from the chanting and tour guide groups spent the day sorting tender hemp leaves and shoots. Wanhe Temple Chairman Hsiao Ching-chieh and Nantun District Chief Lin Chiu-wan also joined the sorting effort.

Hsiao stated that the 'Walking on Wooden Clogs to Awaken the Carp' festival is officially recognized as a cultural heritage event by Taichung City. The event is organized by the Taichung City Government, implemented by the Nantun District Office, and fully supported by Wanhe Temple.

The carnival will take place on June 19—the Dragon Boat Festival—from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Wanhe Temple's front plaza and Nantun Old Street. In addition to the highlight thousand-person wooden clog parade, the event features a blend of traditional folk customs and a 'Fairy Tale Carnival Party'.

Hsiao emphasized that hemp soup is a renowned local specialty during the Dragon Boat Festival in Nantun. Preparing the soup involves removing the veins from jute leaves, kneading out the bitterness, and cooking them with sweet potatoes and dried fish to create a flavorful dish. It can be enjoyed in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian forms, and when mixed with rice, offers a satisfying and unique taste.

Wanhe Temple will serve hemp soup and fish ball soup (with fish balls provided by Taichung Fish Market), while Wenchang Temple will offer zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). These will be distributed at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., available while supplies last. (Editor: Li Shu-hua)