Snail Races Help Tourism in Fenglin, Taiwan (CEFR Compare)

May 5, 2026, 16:58

Snail Races Help Tourism in Fenglin, Taiwan

Introduction

Fenglin is a small town in Taiwan. The town wants more tourists to visit.

Main Body

Fenglin is a 'slow' town. Many old people live there. The town wants people to enjoy a quiet life. In April 2024, a big earthquake hit the town. Many people died or got hurt. Fewer tourists visited the town after the earthquake. To help, the town started snail races. A snail named 'Brother Snail' won a race in May. People from big cities came to watch. The town also has e-bike tours. Visitors see old houses and a museum. Many students visit the town for a short time.

Conclusion

Fenglin uses slow living and snail races to bring tourists back after the earthquake.

Learning

⚡ The 'Past' Pattern

Look at how we talk about things that already happened in the story. We just add -ed to the action word.

visit → visited
start → started

Wait! Some words are 'rebels' and change completely:

hit → hit (stays the same!)
win → won
come → came

🏠 Describing Places (Adjectives)

To tell someone about a town, put the describing word before the thing.

Small (word) + town (thing) → Small town Quiet (word) + life (thing) → Quiet life Big (word) + cities (thing) → Big cities

🛠️ Word Building

Tourists (People who visit) $\rightarrow$ Tourism (The business of visiting)

Vocabulary Learning

town (n.)

A community that is smaller than a city but larger than a village.

Example:Fenglin is a small town in Taiwan.

small (adj.)

Not large in size.

Example:The town is small.

tourists (n.)

People who travel for leisure.

Example:Many tourists visit the town.

visit (v.)

To go to see a place or person.

Example:People visit Fenglin to see the snail races.

slow (adj.)

Moving at a low speed.

Example:Fenglin is a slow town.

old (adj.)

Having lived for many years.

Example:Many old people live there.

quiet (adj.)

Not noisy; calm.

Example:The town wants people to enjoy a quiet life.

earthquake (n.)

A sudden shaking of the earth.

Example:An earthquake hit the town in April.

many (adj.)

A large number of.

Example:Many people died in the earthquake.

people (n.)

Human beings.

Example:People from big cities came to watch.

help (v.)

To give assistance.

Example:The town started snail races to help tourists.

race (n.)

A competition to see who is fastest.

Example:Brother Snail won a snail race.

watch (v.)

To look at something.

Example:People came to watch the race.

city (n.)

A large town.

Example:People from big cities came to watch.

bike (n.)

A vehicle with two wheels.

Example:The town has e-bike tours.

museum (n.)

A place to show historical items.

Example:Visitors see a museum.

Using Snail Racing to Boost Tourism in Fenglin, Taiwan

Introduction

The town of Fenglin has adopted a 'slow living' philosophy to attract more tourists and help the local economy recover after a series of earthquakes in the region.

Main Body

Fenglin officially joined the international 'Cittaslow' network in 2014, focusing on a high quality of life and the use of local products. This approach fits the town's current situation, as the population has decreased significantly over several decades. Currently, Fenglin is considered a 'super-aged' society, meaning that more than 20% of its residents are aged 65 or older. After a major earthquake in April 2024 caused 19 deaths and over 1,100 injuries, tourism in the area dropped sharply. To solve this problem, local organizers and residents, such as Cheng Jen-shou, started hosting snail races. During the May Day holiday, the third annual event took place, featuring several heats and a final race on a 33-centimeter track. The winner, named 'Brother Snail,' finished in 3 minutes and 3 seconds, attracting both locals and visitors from big cities like Kaohsiung. Furthermore, the local government has introduced other tourism activities. For example, they now offer guided e-bike tours that visit historic Japanese buildings, old tobacco barns, and the Hakka-minority museum. While these efforts have successfully attracted short-term visitors and university students, feedback suggests that people see the slow pace of life as a temporary break rather than a reason to move to the town permanently.

Conclusion

Fenglin continues to use its 'slow city' status and unique events to bring back tourists following the 2024 earthquake.

Learning

⚡ The 'B2 Jump': Moving Beyond Simple Verbs

At an A2 level, you describe things simply: "The town is old" or "Tourism went down." To reach B2, you need to use Dynamic Verbs of Change. These are verbs that describe how something is moving or shifting.

Look at these three power-phrases from the text:

"Dropped sharply" $\rightarrow$ (Not just "went down," but a fast, steep fall).
"Decreased significantly" $\rightarrow$ (A formal way to say "became much smaller").
"Boost tourism" $\rightarrow$ (Instead of "increase," this implies pushing something upward with energy).

🧩 The Logic of 'Collocation' (Word Partnerships)

B2 fluency isn't about knowing more words; it's about knowing which words belong together.

A2 Level (Basic)	B2 Bridge (Professional)	Why it's better
Go down fast	Drop sharply	Creates a vivid image of a cliff
Get smaller	Decrease significantly	Sounds academic and precise
Make better	Boost economy	Sounds like a strategic action

💡 Pro-Tip: The 'Adverb Hack'

Notice how "sharply" and "significantly" change the sentence?

If you say "The population decreased," it's a fact. If you say "The population decreased significantly," you are providing an analysis.

Challenge your brain: Next time you want to use the word "very" or "a lot," replace it with a B2 adverb like significantly, sharply, or considerably.

Vocabulary Learning

philosophy (n.)

A set of ideas about how to live or the way of life adopted by a group.

Example:The town’s philosophy of slow living attracts tourists who want a relaxed pace.

attract (v.)

To draw people or attention toward something.

Example:The festival’s unique activities attract visitors from nearby cities.

economy (n.)

The system of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services in a region.

Example:The local economy recovered after the series of earthquakes.

recover (v.)

To return to a normal state after a setback or damage.

Example:Tourism began to recover once new attractions were introduced.

earthquake (n.)

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement of the earth’s crust.

Example:The 2024 earthquake caused significant damage to the town.

network (n.)

A group of connected people or organizations.

Example:Fenglin joined the international Cittaslow network to promote sustainable living.

population (n.)

All the people living in a particular area.

Example:The population of Fenglin has decreased over several decades.

decreased (v.)

To become smaller or fewer in number.

Example:The population decreased significantly after the earthquakes.

super‑aged (adj.)

Describing a society where a large proportion of people are 65 or older.

Example:Fenglin is considered a super‑aged society with over 20% of residents aged 65 or older.

organiser (n.)

A person who arranges or coordinates an event.

Example:Local organisers hosted snail races to boost tourism.

hosting (v.)

To hold or conduct an event.

Example:They started hosting snail races during the May Day holiday.

historic (adj.)

Relating to or belonging to the past and having significance.

Example:The guided e‑bike tours visit historic Japanese buildings.

Implementation of Gastropod Competitions as a Tourism Recovery Strategy in Fenglin, Taiwan

Introduction

The municipality of Fenglin has integrated a philosophy of decelerated living into its civic identity to stimulate tourism following seismic activity in the region.

Main Body

The strategic orientation of Fenglin toward a 'slow' lifestyle was formalized in 2014 upon its accession to the Cittaslow international network. This institutional alignment emphasizes quality of life and the procurement of local sustenance. Such a framework is particularly congruent with the town's demographic trajectory; the population has experienced a threefold contraction over several decades, and the municipality currently exhibits characteristics of a 'super-aged' society, with over 20% of residents aged 65 or older. Following a seismic event in April 2024, which resulted in 19 fatalities and over 1,100 injuries, the local tourism sector experienced a significant decline. Residents and organizers, including Cheng Jen-shou, initiated the hosting of snail races to mitigate this downturn. The third iteration of this event occurred during the May Day holiday, featuring six preliminary heats and a final. The competition utilized a 33-centimeter vinyl surface, with the champion, 'Brother Snail,' recording a time of 3 minutes and 3 seconds. Participants included both local residents and visitors from distant urban centers such as Kaohsiung. Complementary to these events, the municipal administration has implemented diversified tourism initiatives. These include the provision of guided e-bike excursions focused on architectural heritage, specifically Japanese colonial structures and historic tobacco barns, as well as the Hakka-minority museum. While these measures have successfully attracted transient visitors, including university students, qualitative feedback suggests that the town's decelerated pace is perceived primarily as a temporary respite rather than a viable long-term residential alternative.

Conclusion

Fenglin continues to utilize its Cittaslow designation and niche events to recover tourism numbers in the aftermath of the 2024 earthquake.

Learning

The Architecture of Nominalization and Lexical Precision

To migrate from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond describing actions and begin conceptualizing them. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs or adjectives into nouns to create a dense, academic, and objective tone.

🔍 The 'Abstract Shift'

Observe how the text avoids simple narrative verbs in favor of complex noun phrases. This shifts the focus from who is doing what to the phenomenon itself.

B2 Approach: The town joined the Cittaslow network, so they started focusing on the quality of life.
C2 Execution: *"This institutional alignment emphasizes quality of life..."

Analysis: "Institutional alignment" replaces the verb "joined," transforming a simple action into a strategic state of being. This is the hallmark of high-level diplomatic and academic discourse.

⚡ Precision Engineering: Collocations of Scale

C2 mastery is defined by the ability to use 'heavy' adjectives that precisely calibrate the meaning of a noun. Note these specific pairings:

"Threefold contraction" $\rightarrow$ Rather than saying "the population decreased a lot," the author uses a mathematical adjective (threefold) paired with a formal noun for shrinking (contraction). This provides an exact, clinical image.
"Transient visitors" $\rightarrow$ "Transient" does more work than "temporary." It implies a state of passing through, suggesting a lack of rootedness, which perfectly contrasts with the "long-term residential alternative" mentioned later.
"Strategic orientation" $\rightarrow$ This replaces "plan." Orientation suggests a compass-like direction, implying a long-term philosophical shift rather than a short-term checklist.

🎓 The 'Academic Bridge' Syntax

Look at the phrasing: "...the municipality currently exhibits characteristics of a 'super-aged' society."

Instead of saying "The town has many old people," the author uses exhibits characteristics of. This is a hedging technique used in C2 English to maintain academic objectivity. It avoids oversimplification and allows for the introduction of a technical term ("super-aged") within a formal syntactic frame.

Vocabulary Learning

decelerated (adj.)

Reduced in speed or slowed down.

Example:The town’s decelerated pace became a hallmark of its cultural identity.

civic (adj.)

Relating to a city or community.

Example:Her civic engagement helped secure funding for the new library.

stimulate (v.)

To encourage activity or growth.

Example:The festival was designed to stimulate local tourism after the earthquake.

seismic (adj.)

Pertaining to earthquakes or seismic activity.

Example:Seismic hazards prompted the city to strengthen its building codes.

accession (n.)

The act of becoming a member of an organization.

Example:Fenglin’s accession to the Cittaslow network marked a new era of slow living.

Cittaslow (n.)

An international network of towns that promote slow living.

Example:As a Cittaslow member, the town prioritizes quality of life over rapid development.

institutional (adj.)

Relating to an institution or established organization.

Example:The municipal council’s institutional alignment with Cittaslow reinforced its commitment.

procurement (n.)

The act of obtaining or acquiring goods or services.

Example:The procurement of local sustenance was a key strategy in the town’s tourism plan.

demographic (adj.)

Relating to the characteristics of a population.

Example:The town’s demographic trajectory shows a steady decline in its younger residents.

super‑aged (adj.)

Describing a society with an exceptionally high proportion of elderly people.

Example:Fenglin is classified as a super‑aged society, with over 20% of residents aged 65 or older.

contraction (n.)

A reduction in size, number, or extent.

Example:The population contraction over the decades has strained local services.

fatalities (n.)

Deaths resulting from an event or accident.

Example:The seismic event caused 19 fatalities and over 1,100 injuries.

mitigate (v.)

To reduce the severity or impact of something.

Example:The snail races were initiated to mitigate the downturn in tourism.

preliminary (adj.)

Occurring before the main event or final stage.

Example:The competition featured six preliminary heats before the grand finale.

vinyl (adj.)

Made from vinyl or resembling vinyl; also a material used for surfaces.

Example:The 33‑centimeter vinyl surface provided a smooth track for the snails.

excursion (n.)

A short trip or outing, often for leisure or educational purposes.

Example:Guided e‑bike excursions highlighted the town’s architectural heritage.

architectural (adj.)

Relating to the design and construction of buildings.

Example:The tour showcased the town’s architectural heritage, including colonial structures.

colonial (adj.)

Relating to a colony or colonial period.

Example:Japanese colonial structures are a key attraction for history enthusiasts.

transient (adj.)

Temporary or short‑lived; not permanent.

Example:The town attracted transient visitors, but few considered long‑term residence.

qualitative (adj.)

Relating to quality or characteristics rather than quantity.

Example:Qualitative feedback suggested the lifestyle was a temporary respite, not a permanent solution.

viable (adj.)

Capable of working or functioning effectively.

Example:The town’s slow‑living model was deemed viable as a niche tourism strategy.

long‑term (adj.)

Lasting for an extended period of time.

Example:Investors debated whether the town’s initiatives could sustain long‑term growth.

alternative (n.)

A choice or option that can replace another.

Example:The slow‑living culture offered an alternative to the usual fast‑paced urban life.

designation (n.)

The act of naming or labeling something officially.

Example:The Cittaslow designation helped the town market itself to eco‑tourists.

niche (adj.)

Specialized or tailored to a specific group or interest.

Example:The town’s niche events, like snail races, drew curious visitors.

recover (v.)

To regain or restore something after a loss or decline.

Example:Fenglin’s tourism numbers began to recover after the 2024 earthquake.

aftermath (n.)

The period following a significant event, especially one with negative consequences.

Example:The town’s recovery efforts focused on the aftermath of the seismic disaster.