Chiayi County Yizhu Pigeon Lantern Culture Festival Kicks Off, 8 Villages Compete for About 20 Days

The opening ceremony was held at the Shengde Palace Mazu Temple in Piquan Village, Yizhu Township, and included pigeon lantern displays, painting, and a pigeon lantern performance show. Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang, who is from Yizhu, was invited to open the cage.

Weng Chang-liang told reporters that the 'pigeon lantern racing' method involves competition between villages, with the duration adjusted based on weather. 'Pigeon lantern racing' involves attaching a wooden lantern of a specific size to a 'racing pigeon' and releasing it from a fixed launch point in the opponent's village to fly back to its own village.

He said that when pigeons fly with 'pigeon lanterns' attached, the airflow through the 'pigeon lanterns' makes a pleasant whistling sound.

The Department of Culture and Tourism stated that pigeon racing requires long-term training. Owners must pay attention to nutritional feeding, keep the pigeons clean, and constantly monitor their health. During training, pigeons start with smaller lanterns and gradually increase the size to train their load-bearing flight capacity.

The Department of Culture and Tourism added that 'pigeon lantern racing' helps enhance interaction and friendship between villages, and the county government encourages the participation of local school teachers and students to pass on traditional folk culture. (Editor: Li Mingzong) 1150407