A 39-year-old dragon boat was "awakened" during a traditional ceremony held in Sixiang Village in Zhongtang Town on May 19, marking the official opening of the series of activities of the 2021 Zhongtang Dragon Boat Folk Culture Festival. From that day to June 22, the day of Zhongtang Dragon Boat Race (the 13th day of the 5th lunar month), 17 activities related to dragon boat folk culture will be held in the town.

The "old dragon" was awakened from "sleep"

At 8 a.m., more than 20 villagers with tools were struggling to excavate the dragon boat up from the river. In no time, the "sleeping" dragon boat was "awakened" amidst the cheers of the villagers. After cleaning, the dragon boat reappeared in its former glory, and people along the riverbank talked enthusiastically about its history and stories, finding an echo with countless people.

The "awakened" boat is a traditional pine dragon boat with a history of 39 years. The boat, made by Feng Huainv, an inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage, is a symbol of dragon boat culture in Zhongtang

As the climate in Guangdong is humid and rainy, to prevent the hull of the dragon boat from getting mouldy, most of them are hidden at the bottom of the river after the Dragon Boat Festival every year. The following year, the hidden "dragons" will be waiting for people to wake them up. The ceremony is to wake up the dragon boats that are sleeping soundly in the riverbed. This is the essence of the culture unique to water towns in Dongguan and a centuries-old dragon boat tradition for Dongguan people.

17 activities to celebrate the Dragon Boat carnival

Zhongtang is the hometown of dragon boat and its culture in China. Since ancient times, people in Zhongtang have had an inseparable relationship with dragon boats. With a long history of more than 500 years, the dragon boat race is staged in each village in Zhongtang every May, known as Nine Dragon Boat Races in Zhongtang.

The year 2021 is the year for the triennial dragon boat race in Zhongtang, and a series of activities for the Dragon Boat Folk Culture Festival will be held. During the 35 days between May 19 and June 22, 17 activities will be carried out online and offline in Zhongtang, including the dragon boat awakening ceremony, cultural creation exhibition of dragon boat, a WeChat mini-program, culture exhibition of dragon heads and drums, folk parade of nine dragon boat races, dragon boat races and intangible cultural heritage fair etc.