Foshan dragon boat is a pioneer in Guangdong and even in China. Diejiao dragon boat drifting started yesterday and it will last for four days!
中国龙舟看广东，广东龙舟看佛山！叠滘龙舟漂移大赛昨日开锣，连赛4天！
In May and June, a number of “Color Dragons” that emerge in the watery network of Foshan bring people a colorful visual feast, which is the dragon boat race in Foshan. Foshan Dragon Boat has more than 500 years of history, bearing rich history of traditional culture.
五六月份，佛山大地密布的水网涌现出一条条游动的“彩龙”，给人们带来色彩纷呈的视觉盛宴，这是佛山的龙舟竞渡。佛山龙舟已有500多年的历史，承载着千年的传统文化。
At the Dragon Boat Festival, the whole town will turn out by the riverside. For Foshan people, Zongzi is not the only symbol of the festival. There is also the passionate feast of Dragon Boat!
每到端午扒龙舟的时候，佛山的河涌边万人空巷。对于佛山人来讲，端午节不只有粽叶飘香，还有充满激情的龙舟盛宴！
“Waking up” the dragon boat
起龙
Dragon boat race is one of the necessary programs for Dragon Boat Festival in Foshan every year. Before the dragon boat race, there is also a ceremony of “waking up” the dragon boat. The dragon boat buried under the river silt is dug up, scrubbed, lacquered, and dressed up for use.
扒龙舟是佛山每年端午的必备节目之一，但是扒龙舟之前，还有一个“起龙”仪式，即将埋在河涌淤泥下的龙船挖起，擦洗干净，打上漆油，将龙船装扮一下待用。
The 586-year-old Yanbu dragon boat, the nation's oldest existing dragon boat, officially got out of the river on May 29 after “sleeping” for a year.
作为全国现存最古老的龙舟，586岁的盐步老龙在“沉睡”一年之后，在5月29正式“重出江湖”！
Uncle Xi, an inheritor of provincial intangible cultural heritage introduced that Yanbu dragon boat only appears in the period of the Dragon Boat Festival every year. After completing the mission, villagers will choose an auspicious day and put the old dragon boat back in the river.
据盐步老龙礼俗省级非遗传承人熙叔介绍，一般来说，盐步老龙每年就只有这段时间会亮相，完成任务后，村民就会挑选良辰吉日，把老龙再次放回“龙床”。
The Yanbu old dragon boat is a "star" in the Pearl River Delta Area. For many years, the cultural essence of the Yanbu Boat Festival has been precipitated, forming a unique custom.
盐步老龙是珠三角龙舟中的“明星”。多年来，盐步老龙礼俗在端午节龙舟活动中文化精华不断沉淀，形成了特有的风俗仪式。
Dragon boat parade
游龙
The dragon boat parade is also called “Chen Jing” (gathering and cruising around) and “Bai Jing” (making postures) . The decorated dragon boat roaming in the river is only to help create an active atmosphere, without any race speed.
游龙又叫“趁景”、“摆景”。趁景的龙船装饰华丽，来往漫游于河涌，以助气氛，不需要竞速。
Dragon boat races in five districts of Foshan are mainly divided into two forms, which are dragon boat parade and dragon boat race, each has its own characteristics. Dragon boat parade lays stress on the ornamental nature, while dragon boat race emphasizes operational skills.
佛山五区民间赛龙舟，形式上分为游龙和竞渡二种，各具特色。游龙轻摇慢弋，注重观赏性；赛龙竞渡比拼速度，则重操作技巧。
Between Shunde Ronggui Huakou Community and Zhongshan Dacen Village, there is an east-west river, Dacen Li River. The Dragon Boat Parade in Dacen Li River has a long history, which can date back to the 1970s. In the past, Dacen Li River was not only the “mother river” for residents on both sides of the river, but also an important link for cultural and folklore exchanges between the two places. In addition to intermarriage and visiting relatives, the most important folklore of the two places is the dragon boat parade held on the first lunar day of May.
顺德容桂华口社区与中山大岑村之间，有一条东西走向的小河——大岑沥。大岑沥的游龙庆典历史甚为悠久，最早追溯至20世纪70年代。昔日，大岑沥不仅是小河两岸居民的“母亲河”，更是两地进行文化民俗交流的重要“纽带”。除了与对岸居民的通婚、走亲戚外，联系两地最重要的民俗就是每年五月初一举行的游龙了。
Dragon boat race
斗龙
The dragon boat race is also called "dragon boat fighting" . On the day of the dragon boat race, the first thing is to “invite the dragon boat head”. People will beat the gongs and drums, and "invite" the dragon boat head that is usually placed in the ancestral hall to the river, insert it into the dragon boat, and hang a string of Clausena lansium leaves (which is believed to drive out evil spirits) on top of the head. The dragon boat will be full of colorful umbrellas and flags.
赛龙舟又叫“斗龙”。赛龙舟之日，首先“请龙头”，敲锣打鼓舞狮子，将平时放在祠堂的龙头“请”到河涌，插到龙船上，并在龙头上面挂一串据说可以驱邪的黄皮叶，龙船上插彩色罗伞、标旗。
In Foshan, the most spectacular dragon boat race is the Diejiao dragon boat drifting in Guicheng.
在佛山，最壮观的当数桂城叠滘龙舟漂移竞速。
The dragon boat drifting that everyone most concerns about comes yesterday! From June 18 to 21, there will be "fast and furious” dragon boat drifting in several different waterways in Guicheng, Nanhai. The four areas, several different waterways including shape S, shape C, shape L and straight track with different degrees of difficulty will bring Foshan Dragon Boat Season to its peak!
大家最关注的“叠滘龙船漂移”昨日开启！18日~21日，几个不同水道的水上“速度与激情”在桂城叠滘上演。四个赛区、几条不同水道（S形、C形、L形、直道），不同难度的漂移竞赛，将把佛山整个龙舟季推向顶峰！
In Diejiao water village, rivers are arranged in a crisscross pattern and a river with an average width of six meters is formed, which limits dragon boats going side by side and only supports a single ship timing race. The 25-meter dragon boat drift on the multi-bend river channels and hundreds of dragon boats compete their speed and skill in narrow curved tracks, which is a perfect combination of skill and power.
叠滘水乡，河涌纵横交错，河流在沧海桑田的演变中，形成了平均宽度六米的河道，限定了龙船不能并船角逐争先，只能单船计时竞渡。25米的大龙舟在多弯的河道上漂移奋进，上百只龙舟在狭隘弯曲的赛道中比试速度和技巧，堪称技术与力量的完美结合。
Located in the back-land of the Pearl River Delta Area, the unique and superior natural condition gave birth to Foshan's profound dragon boat culture. “Foshan dragon boat is a pioneer in Guangdong and even in China.” Yu Hanqiao, secretary-general of Chinese Longzhou Association praised. Dragon boat race represents the spirit for people to fight for a better life together.
地处珠江三角洲腹地，独特而优越的自然水域孕育了佛山悠久的龙舟文化。中国龙舟协会秘书长余汉桥这样评价佛山：“中国龙舟看广东，广东龙舟看佛山”。划龙舟代表了老百姓们为了美好生活共同奋斗的精神。
Source| en.foshannews.net
