The Enchanting Dragon Boat Races of ZiBu Town

Have you ever seen Dragon Boat Race in yourself? Do you know the preparation for it? Do you know any less-known customs of dragon boat rowing? Luckily, I spend the wonderful Dragon Boat Festival in my hometown Wannian County , where I have learned something new and impressive about the customs of dragon boat.
The cultural significance of the Dragon Boat Festival is not only that how we remember our history, but also that how China stands in the world with its unique posture. As we all know, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to remember Qu Yuan, a patriotic hero with great integrity in history, who drown himself in a river. And people rowed boats and throw food to the fish to prevent them from eating Qu Yuan’s body, that’s why we have such a custom of dragon boat rice. Those are a general impression of dragon boats, but this time, I went to ZiBu Town, Wannian County to see a wonderful dragon boat race and talk with local people about it, and get more information about it.
The ZiBu Town has the history of Dragon Boat Race for more than 600 years. Moreover, the local dragon boat race were reported by CCTY News in 2023. The local people told me they would go to the Gulong Mountain Cave in 2 a.m. to invite the Dragon King to “come out of the mountain”. According to the ancient legends there was a dragon here. Whenever a new boat was launched, people would come here to set off fireworks and firecrackers to seek the Dragon King’s blessing for good weather and smooth sailing in the coming year. Additionally, they will recite a long ritual prayer in dialect to express their wishes. It is very interesting but rational, as we Chinese always try our best to pray for good luck in lives. What’s more, the local people told me they attached a lot of attention in this tradition. Dragon boat races are held between every village, with each side secretly vying to outgrow the other. And they will also train in advance for a month for this. Interestingly, they take the competition so seriously that sometimes incidents like fights occur, and that’s why police come here every year to supervise order. When they told me these things and their glorious history, I saw the purest and proudest smiles in the world on their faces. From our conversation, a sense of admiration crept me, because I can see how they love this tradition and how attractive our traditions are.
Before, when it comes to my hometown Wannian County, the words comes to my mind is “poor” and “boring”. It was a place I wanted to leave, a place I saw as lacking in charm or opportunity.But now, I don’t think so, as I have experienced it in myself: I saw how they shed sweat and strived with all their might to win and love this traditional culture; I saw that my hometown also has its remarkable aspects, which I had just never noticed before; I saw how this visit to ZiBu Town connect me with my hometown’s heritage.
But amid the prosperity, crises also exist. The local people told me there are less and less young people to stay at home to learn this tradition, which doesn’t mean they don’t love it. Actually they love it as much as their forefathers, but they need go out their homes to make fortunes and have a better future. This raises pressing questions: To whom will we entrust these traditions? How can we ensure that future generations not only preserve but also enhance this cultural legacy?
I firmly believe that solutions exist. In this digital age, we can leverage social media platforms to showcase the beauty and uniqueness of Zibu Town's dragon boat races to the world. Schools in the area could incorporate dragon boat - related courses into their curriculum, educating the younger generation about their cultural heritage from an early age. By finding the right balance between personal development and cultural preservation, we can ensure that the dragon boat races of Zibu Town continue to thrive for centuries to come, a living testament to the enduring power of tradition.