The 2019 Liudui Marathon kicked off in Kaohsiung’s Meinong District on
Oct. 20 under the theme “Hakka Power.” Lee Yung-de, minister of the Hakka
Affairs Council (HAC), was among those who crossed the finish line.
The runners’ event was attended by over 5,000 participants, including Chu
Mu-yen (朱木炎), Taekwondo
gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics; Chen Shih-shan (陳石山), founding
president of the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association (中華民國路跑協會); officials
of Kaohsiung City Government Huang Yung-ching (黃永卿), Chou
Ming-chen (周明鎮), Chung
Ping-kuang (鍾炳光), and Yang Hsiao-chih
(楊孝治); and Chung
Ching-hui (鍾清輝), president
of the Meinong Farmer’s Association.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Minister Lee said that Meinong,
which is part of a vast Hakka stronghold across Kaohsiung and Pingtung known as
the Liudui region, has a long history of Hakka ancestry as Hakka immigrants had
invested considerable effort to cultivate the land and build their homes in this
area 300 years ago.
As a Meinong-born Hakka, Lee highly recommended the significant historic
attractions of his hometown along the running route, including Shihzihtou Canal
(獅子頭水圳), Meinong
Water Bridge (美濃水橋), East Gate
Tower (東門樓), and Jingzi
Pavilion (敬字亭), as well
as the natural glamour of Meinong Lake (美濃湖) and Xinwei Forest Park (新威森林公園).
Lee hoped that all the marathoners got to appreciate the idyllic scenery,
explore historic sites, and enjoy unforgettable local experiences in this Hakka
settlement. To impress visitors at home and abroad with the charm of Hakka villages
in southern Taiwan, HAC will continue to raise the international profile of the
Liudui region, he promised.
The minister later successfully completed his first full marathon,
receiving a great round of cheers from participants as he was reaching the
finish line.
The race also celebrated Hakka culture by providing runners with local
specialties at supply stations such as papayas, taro cakes, and Wanluan-style
braised pork knuckles (萬巒豬腳), which is a renowned delicacy in Pingtung. Enthusiastic
local residents cheered on marathoners by chanting in the Hakka or
singing Hakka mountain songs, energizing the whole event.