On May 18, Huanglian Community in Leliu Town, Shunde District, Foshan, held its traditional "dragon raising" ceremony. Through blessing rituals, drumming, dragon washing, and trial paddling, a 150-year-old dragon boat was ceremonially "awakened" from its year-long rest as the Dragon Boat Festival approaches.
As the "hometown of dragon boats," Shunde honors the enduring spirit of the Chinese nation through vibrant races during the Dragon Boat Festival—celebrating perseverance, unity, and competitive spirit.
People work together to pull the dragon boat out of the water.
Leliu Town continues to cement its status as a dragon boat cultural hub through traditions like the Longyan Eye-Dotting Ceremony and Huanglian Colourful Dragon Parades. Ahead of this year's Dragon Boat Festival, villages across Leliu Town will host a series of events, including dragon raising, eye-dotting, parades, and races, revitalising cherished customs.
On the third day of the fifth lunar month, nearly 100 dragon boats from across the Pearl River Delta will converge in Longyan Village, Leliu, for the traditional "Longyan Eye-Dotting" ceremony. Surrounding the ritual, Leliu will host dragon welcoming banquets, heritage exhibitions, cultural product launches, coffee markets, and folk art experiences, enhancing the event's cultural richness and reinforcing the "Longyan Eye-Dotting" brand.
The dragon-raising ceremony in Huanglian Community involves manually lifting the boat from the water.
Children are watching the ancient dragon boat.
On the Dragon Boat Festival, Huanglian Community will stage a vibrant parade featuring 18 elaborately decorated dragon boats, complete with drums, gongs, flags, and ceremonial umbrellas, cruising through its inner rivers. Jiangyi Village will hold a 200-meter dragon boat race and parade, while Jiangcun Village will host a three-person agricultural boat sprint and offer interactive displays of traditional dragon boats.
Author | Lan Zhiling
Photo | Leliu Town Publicity Department
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
