Snail Racing Is Saving This Taiwanese Town

The town of Fenglin in Taiwan’s Hualien County is revitalizing its community and tourism through the unique sport of snail racing.

Following the tragic April 2024 earthquake that deterred visitors, local organizers used the 2024 and 2026 editions of the race to celebrate a “slow city” lifestyle focused on sustainability and community.

The 2026 champion, a snail named Guage, completed a 33-centimeter course in just over three minutes, winning a prize of organic sweet potato leaves.

Beyond the quirky event, Fenglin is fighting a rural exodus and an aging population by encouraging young professionals to trade city stress for a slower pace of life.

Initiatives like “immigration relay stations” allow newcomers to try out the lifestyle, hoping to fill vital roles as teachers and social workers while honoring the town’s official “Cittaslow” designation.