Handcrafted dragon boats return home as ancient festival tradition finds new life in China
KEEPING TRADITIONS ALIVE
In Zigui, dragon boat racing is more than a sport. For many residents, the Dragon Boat Festival holds even greater significance than the Chinese New Year.
"Unlike most parts of China, where the festival centers on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, Zigui observes a month-long festival in three stages," said Li Li, an official with Zigui's culture and tourism bureau.
According to Li, one of the most distinctive traditions in Zigui is the hanging of festival couplets, which often contain wishes for good health and references to Qu's patriotic spirit.
Qu's literary legacy also endures. Works, including "Li Sao" and "Tian Wen," remain widely studied and recited, and annual poetry gatherings have been held in his hometown for generations during the Dragon Boat Festival.
"The festival is also a precious opportunity for my family to get together. Relatives who live away from Zigui would come back. We can make zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), watch dragon boat races and enjoy the festive atmosphere," said Tan Guoqing, a local resident.
Beyond the riverbanks, visitors also participated in traditional activities such as making herbal sachets, hanging mugwort and learning Zigui embroidery, a local intangible cultural heritage craft.
Chen Yuqiang, a tourist from East China's Fujian province, traveled to watch the races and visit sites connected to Qu in Zigui. "In the past, I learned about him from textbooks," Chen said. "Coming here allows me to understand his patriotism and values in a much deeper way."
According to Xiang Siqing, a veteran folk dragon boat rower in Xiantao City, Hubei, the revival of traditional wooden dragon boats has also been witnessed in other cities.
"In recent years, more and more villages have restored the wooden dragon boats in Hubei. These traditional boats would gather to parade and compete, creating an incredible festive atmosphere for the Dragon Boat Festival," he said.
