The tranquil Taiwanese town of Fenglin, known for its slow pace of life, has turned to an unusual attraction to draw visitors back after a devastating earthquake in 2024: snail racing. The event, now in its third year, was conceived by residents to counter a slump in tourism following the April 2024 quake that killed 19 people and injured over 1,100.
Fenglin, with a population of around 10,000, has embraced its identity as a 'slow city' since joining the international Cittaslow network in 2014. The snail, Cittaslow’s symbol, seemed a fitting mascot. Organiser Cheng Jen-shou said the race was intended to help local tourism recover. 'We thought that our event could attract people, and that would be a small help,' he explained.
This year’s race was held over the May Day holiday, featuring six heats over two days. Winners competed in a final, where snails were placed at the centre of a round table covered with a thin vinyl sheet; the first to reach the edge won. The champion, a snail named Brother Snail (Guage), crossed the 33-centimetre tablecloth in three minutes and three seconds, earning a prize of organic sweet potato leaves.
Residents and tourists brought their own snails to compete. Li Cheng-wen, a 70-year-old retiree, collected snails from his vegetable garden and raised them as pets rather than killing them. Kelvin Hong and Tiara Lin travelled five hours from Kaohsiung with their giant African snail, Aquaman, which had missed a previous race due to the owner’s labour. Despite its size, Aquaman was slow on the day.
The local government has also introduced guided e-bike tours of historic sites, including tobacco barns and Japanese colonial-era buildings, to attract visitors. University students Annette Lin and Tanya Liu took a train from Hualien to experience the snail race and the town’s leisurely vibe. 'I think for travel or a trip, it’s a great choice,' Liu said, adding that the slow pace was a welcome respite from city life.
