On October 3, 26 dragon boats competed against each other in Laobao township of Sanjiang county in Liuzhou.

Being one of the activities of the 8th China (Liuzhou • Sanjiang) Duoye Festival of the Tong ethnic group, the boat competition consisted of 26 teams from Sanjiang, Rongshui, and Rong’an, and attracted a number of tourists during the National Day holiday.

The Dragon Boat Festival in Laobao village (on the 13th in May of the lunar calendar) has a long and deep-rooted history.

According to Mo Yongliang, party secretary of Laobao village, the Dragon Boat Festival began in 1927 as a means for locals to commemorate Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese patriotic poet. That day, all the villagers dressed in beautiful clothes and gathered at Sanjiangkou to watch the race. The game later became a traditional activity held on the 13th in May of Chinese lunar calendar.

Spectators watching the game

Since 1952, the Laobao Dragon Boat festival has been held every three years. It has since been held 12 times. The boat race is well known in Liuzhou and other neighboring provinces, such as Congjiang county of Guizhou province and Tongdao county of Hunan province.

Now the Dragon Boat competition has transformed itself from a sporting to a commemoration activity, where the “Dragon boat spirit” is held by way of inheriting and preserving the Dragon boat culture.

Source: China Daily Guangxi bureau