Kaohsiung Dragon Boat

Close-up of a vibrant, hand-painted dragon boat head with bold colors and intricate details.

The Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association was founded in November 1987. When the Association selected dragon boat racing as an annual cultural event, Mayor Su promptly donated two boats as a gift to the Association. This is one of those two boats. the elaborately decorated boats made their debut during the eye-opening ceremony which included a special Buddhist ceremony and water effects by the Portland Fire Bureau’s fireboat. The Kaohsiung Dragon Boat measures 40 feet 6 inches in length, 5 feet 4 inches in width, and weighs 1,760 pounds (800 kilograms). The boats were launched from the lawn of Waterfront Park by means of a 75 foot crane. Dragon boats are well-suited for the choppy waters of the Willamette River. Portland’s boats are slightly shorter than the typical Kaohsiung dragon boat in order to fit inside ship containers for overseas transport. In June 1989, Portland’s first dragon boat races were held with 31 teams competing. Dragon boat races are now a celebrated part of Portland’s unique culture.

  • A dragon boat team rowing through the water in front of Portland's city skyline during a festival.
  • Close-up of the colorful, worn paint and markings on the front of a dragon boat, with the number "1" and Chinese characters.