As the Duanwu Festival or the Dragon Boat Festival holiday approaches, Hunan Province has entered the time for the annual "Dragon Boat Race". An array of dragon boat races are coming. Let's check them out!

2024 Chenzhou "Our Festival - Dragon Boat Festival" Theme Activities and "Jiahua International Town Cup" Dongjiang Lake Traditional Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament

Duration: June 7-8

Venue: Dongjiang Bay, Zixing City

Activity: More than 20 teams will compete in the dragon boat race.

2024 Changsha Dragon Boat Invitational Competition and Wangcheng District Dragon Boat Culture Festival

Duration: June 8-10

Venue: Qianlong Lake Eco-tourism Resort, Changsha City

Activities: More than 50 dragon boat teams from all over the country will compete in Changsha and showcase their skills. A China-chic fair starting from June 8, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the charm of traditional culture. Visitors can taste delicious zongzi, a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, and participate in a quiz for special Duanwu Festival gifts. They can also wear Hanfu, taste local snacks such as Tangyou Baba (glutinous rice dumpling fried in sweet oil) and small bowls of sweet wine, and try their hand at sugar painting, dough sculpture, Hunan embroidery, paper cutting, lacquer coated fan making, and other intangible cultural heritage items. A beer music festival is scheduled to be held from 20:00 to 22:00 on June 8 and 9. Visitors can enjoy live music performances brought by a youth band while drinking beer.

Liuyang "Our Festival - Dragon Boat Invitational Competition"

Date: June 8

Venue: Laodao River, Yangtian Village, Shashi Town, Liuyang City

Activity: A number of dragon boat teams from Longfu Town, Chunkou Town, and Shashi Town will compete in the race.

2024 Zhuzhou (Lukou) Dragon Boat Invitational Competition

Date: June 8

Venue: Zhuting Ancient Town, Zhuzhou City

Activities: Twelve teams will compete in the dragon boat race. Colorful activities such as Hanfu show, photography contest, making zongzi (pyramid-shaped dumplings made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves), and folklore experience will be staged, so that visitors will immerse themselves in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere to learn about the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival and feel the charm of the ancient town.

Dragon Boat Races at Mayang Sub-venue

Duration: June 8-23

Venues: Guogongping Town, Jinhe Town, Jiangkouxu Town, Lanli Town , Lvjiaping Town, Gaocun Town along the Jinjiang River

Activity: A total of 105 dragon boat teams will compete in the races.

2024 Hanshou Qingshui Lake Cup Traditional Dragon Boat Race

Date: June 9

Venue: Qingshui Lake, Hanshou County

Activities: a display of traditional dragon boat culture, and 1,000-meter straight race performance.

2024 Xiangxi Dragon Boat Race & Duck-grabbing Competition

Date: June 9-10

Venue: Shawanhe Section of the Tuojiang River, Fenghuang Ancient Town

Activities: traditional 300-meter straight dragon boat race against the current, to be attended by 32 teams, and a duck-grabbing competition at Shawan-Huilongge section of the Tuojiang River held at 16:00 on June 10.

"Our Festival—Duanwu Festival" 2024 Xiangtan International Dragon Boat Invitational Competition

Date: June 10

Venue: Wanlou Section of the Xiangjiang River

Activities: the 500-meter straight race with 22 crew members, and traditional dragon boat cruise 

2024 China "Our Festival—Duanwu Festival" Themed Cultural Activities Hunan Miluo Events

Date: June 10

Venue: Miluo River International Dragon Boat Race Center

Activities: folk dance performance for blessing; a "dragon eye dotting" ceremony; a dragon boat launch ceremony; a zongzi-themed cultural festival; art performances; a zongzi-making competition; a zong-eating contest; and, an award-winning quiz.

Xiangyin County "Shuntian Yangsha Lake Cup" Dragon Boat Race

Date: 2:00 pm-5:30 pm, June 11

Venue: Yangsha Lake Water Sports Center

Activities: the men's 500-meter straight race; a water-sprinkling festival; a beer, crayfish, and food festival; a zongzi-making contest; and, lion and dragon dance performances. 

Zhongfang County Sub-race of the 2024 Huaihua Traditional Dragon Boat Race

Duration: June 16 to 20

Venues: Tongding Village Dock on the Yuanshui River in Tongding Town, Zhongfang County; downstream section from the dam of Tongwan Hydropower Station in Tongwan Town, Zhongfang County; and, Jingping Village Dock on the Wushui River, Zhongfang County

Activities: dragon boat races to be attended by 74 teams; Yanwei (swallow tail) dragon boat manufacturing technique presentation and Yanwei dragon boat intangible cultural heritage exhibition; intangible cultural heritage shows of Bawangbian dance and double-barrelled suona by the inheritors; and, cultural tourism resources showcases of Jingping and Huangxi ancient villages.

Chenxi County Sub-race of the 2024 Huaihua Traditional Dragon Boat Race

Duration: June 17 – 19

Venues: Huangxikou Tonw and Tanwan Town, Chenxi County

Activities: dragon boat races to be attended by 135 teams; and, performances of Chenhe Gaoqiang opera, Chashan folk songs, Yao ethnic costumes, and Qia Long Chuan (dragon boat fight) performances.

Yuanling County Sub-race of the 2024 Huaihua Traditional Dragon Boat Race

Duration: June 20 – 23

Venue: Dragon Boat Square racing track in Yuanling County

Activities: dragon boat races to be attended by 46 teams; dragon culture experience activities; promotions of Zhonghuashu Mountain, Longxingjiang Temple, and Jiemuxi Scenic Area; and, promotions of Yuanling's specialty food and intangible cultural heritage experience activities.

Xupu County Sub-race of the 2024 Huaihua Traditional Dragon Boat Race

Duration: June 21 – 23

Venue: Dajiangkou Town, Xupu County

Activities: demonstration dragon boat races to be attended by 48 men's teams and 6 women's teams, and sprint races to be attended by 48 men's teams; promotions of Xupu's specialty snacks such as pillow Zongzi, ice jelly, Baxian wormwood glutinous rice cake, kudzu root noodles, rice pudding, etc.; and, culture and tourism promotion activities.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translators: Yu Jiangjiang; Xiao Juan; Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: official Wechat account of Hunan Culture and Tourism Department