Dragon-boat Racing

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Dragon Boat Race

Applicant: Dongguan City, Guangdong Province

Project No.: 1148

Project No.: VI - 65

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional sports, recreation and acrobatics

Region: Guangdong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Dongguan City, Guangdong Province

Protection unit: Cultural Service Center of Wanjiang District, Dongguan City

Introduction to Dragon Boat Race:

Applicant: Dongguan City, Guangdong Province

Dragon boat race is a traditional sport with local characteristics in Dongguan. Dongguan is located on the East Bank of the Pearl River Estuary. It is a water town with rivers and waters. It has been popular since the Song Dynasty. From the eighth day of the fourth lunar month every year, people in Dongguan begin to prepare for dragon boat races. Until the end of May, people in Dongguan row dragon boats, wash dragon boat water, take advantage of the Dragon Boat scenery, eat Dragon Boat cakes, eat Dragon Boat rice and sing Dragon Boat songs for more than a month, which is called "Dragon Boat month".

The central activity of dragon boat month is ferry race, also known as "Dragon Boat scenery". Including: dragon boat launch, green, logo, take advantage of the scenery, win the bid, reward bid, etc., Dongguan is the most lively scenery. There are two forms of ferry race: one is a friendly race, which is called "taking advantage of the scenery". There is no prize and no special organization. Two or more dragon boats meet on the river to compete spontaneously and gather and disperse freely; the other is "racing dragon to win the championship", which is also called "putting the bid", "fighting the bid" and "fighting the big scenery".

Dongguan Dragon Boat scenery starts from Wanjiang every year. The people of Wanjiang regard the dragon boat race as a major event in their hometown. Ten days before the race, they choose the most young and experienced villagers to take the heat and sun to do their training without fear of wind and rain. At the command of the competition, dozens of dragon boats, such as arrows, splashed water, strive for the upper reaches. The audience along the coast is earth shaking, known as "the first scene of Dongguan dragon boat". Since then, towns and villages have made mutual concessions and set their own dragon boat scenery days. In order to maintain the friendship created from generation to generation, we must take advantage of the scenery in the villages of Shijiao, Shihao and the same surname. Now Dragon Boat scenery has developed into a recreational and competitive activity actively participated by the masses.