Wan Guicheng is currently the youngest master who makes miniature dragon boats in Zhongtang Town, Dongguan.
Dongguan has a long history of dragon boat culture. In Zhongtang Town, the "Hometown of Dragon Boats in China", there are a dozen masters who make miniature dragon boats, among whom the 27-year-old Wan Guicheng is currently the youngest. Though still young, he has 8 years of experience in making miniature dragon boats and has made nearly 800 miniature dragon boats, which are sold to all parts of the country.
In 2012, Wan started to learn how to make miniature dragon boats after graduating from a technician school. By continuously improving the production technology and overcoming many difficulties, he finally completed his first real dragon boat in 2014. Since 2016, he has sold hundreds of miniature dragon boats every year.
It needs patience and meticulousness to scale the tens-of-meters-long dragon boat down to a one-meter-long miniature model. Compared with the traditional big dragon boats, these miniature dragon boats are even more difficult to make. Usually it takes six or seven days to make one. Even so, Wan has never tired of it.
In recent years, people begin to consider miniature dragon boats as good gifts and also as collectibles. With the gradual rise of the miniature dragon boat market, Wan has more and more customers. He has set up a studio and promoted it through social networking platforms such as WeChat and Douyin.
Wan has a deep connection to dragon boats. He is a member of the Zhongzhi Dragon Boat Club in the town. Besides participating in the Dragon Boat competition, he also helps other players with training.
This year, Wan has completed orders for more than 80 miniature dragon boats, which have been sold in the Pearl River Delta region, and to some customers from Beijing. "Since you choose to do it, do it with your heart." Wan said, every detail of the dragon boat must be precise before the deadline, with the quality up to standard. "This is a matter of responsibility and attitude, and the spirit of a craftsman."
