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With Dragon Boat Festival just around the corner, excitement is building for this year’s races. But making one of these boats is not an easy feat. Taipei master artisan Liu Ching-cheng still insists on making everything by hand, even at 85 years old. From selecting the timber, to carving and painting, Liu stands alone as the last traditional dragon boat artisan in northern Taiwan.

Rows of dragon boats sit docked at Taipei’s Sanjiaodu Pier, waiting for the day of the Dragon Boat Festival to cut through the waves. Their majestically carved heads are a point of particular pride for their maker.

From picking the right timber, to carving and painting, each boat requires dozens of steps. With his lifetime of experience, Master Liu doesn’t need a blueprint.

-Woah woah, be careful!
-I’m old now. Before, I could lift it all up in one go.

At 85 years old, Liu Ching-cheng is northern Taiwan’s last traditional dragon boat craftsman. Each one costs NT$800,000. Aside from its look, each boat must handle heavy loads and be race-ready, requiring expert engineering.

Liu Ching-cheng
Dragon boat artisan
There’s no one to help out. I did everything myself, from the head to the stern. I even haul the lumber by myself. I started learning from my dad when I was 18. I’m 85 now, so I’ve been doing this for over 60 years.

Born into a family of boat makers, Liu initially learned how to make river-faring junks from his father before transitioning to handcrafting wooden dragon boats. Over the course of his career, he’s built hundreds of boats and earned international acclaim. He even knows how to race them.

Liu Ching-cheng
Dragon boat artisan
Back then, they were called the Seventh Security Corps. Now they’re the coast guard. Before they went to compete in the US, I coached them on their starting strokes for four days, and they ended up winning. I’ll probably stop after this year. I’m old. It hurts my back.

Yang Yue-li
Liu’s wife
He can’t keep doing this anymore. He’s old. It used to take him 20 or so days to make a boat, but now it takes two months.

His wife usually helps him paint the oars. They have four kids together, but they’ve all pursued their own careers. Now that he’s looking to retire, he’s concerned about passing down this swiftly vanishing skill.

Liu Ching-cheng
Dragon boat artisan
People who truly want to learn a craft can’t just listen to their teacher talk. You need to observe closely while they’re working. See what he does and ask questions. You need a quick mind.

His hands may have slowed with age, but the fire in his eyes is unchanged. It’s exactly this passion that has allowed Liu to proudly showcase Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage throughout his storied career.

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