The dragon boat races in Foshan's Diejiao are highly thrilling, attracting visitors nationwide in recent years. From June 8 to 11, dragon boat drifting races will take place in Diejiao, showcasing the high-speed, high-skill techniques of 18 competing teams.
Diejiao dragon boat races in the previous year (Image: Nanhai Fabu)
Unlike traditional races on open water, the Diejiao races are conducted in narrow waterways, just 6 meters wide, where 25-meter-long boats navigate through tight turns, drifting and reversing with precision. Teams of 30 meticulously row the boats, since any mistake can lead to collisions.
Dragon boat drifting requires high skills (Image: Nanhai Fabu)
Racing event schedule
Shengtang Village's L-bend
Time: June 8, 2:30 pm
Location: Waterway in front of Kong Ancestral Hall (孔大宗祠), Shengtang Village
Bus: Route 113 to Haishan Road RT-Mart (海三路大润发), or Route Gui 02, Gui 02B, Gui 13, Li 09, G3, G10, 120, 261A to Dianan Market (叠南市场)
Animation of the dragon boat race at Shengtang Village (Image: Foshan Fabu)
Tantou Village's C-bend
Time: June 9, 2:30 pm
Location: Waterway in front of Li Ancestral Hall (李大宗祠), Tantou Village
Bus: Route Gui 14, Gui 05 to Jiangtou (江头) , or Route Gui 16, 113, 129 to Junya Garden South (俊雅花园南)
The dragon boat passes the C-bend at Tantou Village (Image: Nanhai Fabu)
Dongsheng Village's S-bend
Time: June 10, 2:30 pm
Location: Village waterway, Dajiao, Dongsheng Village
Bus: Route Gui 02 to the Diebei Village Committee (叠北村委) or Nanhai Second Cotton Factory (南海棉二厂), or Route 108, 121, G10, Gui 13, Li 09 to Xinghuiyuan (星晖园)
The dragon boat passes the S-bend at Dongsheng Village (Image: Nanhai Fabu)
Chaji Village's straight-path
Time: June 11, 2:30 pm
Location: Waterway in front of Village History Museum (村史馆), Chaji Village
Bus: Route Gui 13, Li 09, 167, 121, 108 to Aobian New Village (澳边新村), or Route 153 to Sailor New Village (海员新村)
Animation of the dragon boat race at Chaji Village (Image: Foshan Fabu)
Public transportation is recommended, because there will be traffic control around the race areas.
Live streaming
The four-day event will be broadcast live from 2 pm every day on various platforms, including the Foshan Public Channel and the Foshan+ app, as well as Xingmu Shipin (醒目视频), Foshan News (佛山新闻), Xiaoqiang Hotline (小强热线), and Foshan Fabu (佛山发布) on WeChat Channels and Douyin. The live streaming will offer viewers immersive coverage with special water-level camera angles capturing the dramatic drifts and tight manoeuvres.
Stories behind: Diejiao dragon boat spirit engages people from Gen Z to octogenarians
The preparation for these races began months in advance, with local and expatriate villagers returning to train. Wen Yongcheng, a Gen-Z participant who has moved to Macao with his family, traveled back to Foshan every weekend to train for his first official dragon boat race. "This has been a childhood dream of mine, to be part of this team and compete alongside my uncles and childhood friends," Wen Yongcheng shared.
Wen Yongcheng participates in dragon boat training at night (Photo: CCTV13)
Li Baoan, who is 88 years old, has dedicated 66 years to boat building. Li Baoan still remembers that the first large dragon boat he made won the championship in a competition. He is determined to spend his life creating more "champion dragons". He also dreams of building the world's longest dragon boat.
Clients visit Li Baoan's dragon boat factory (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Li Baoan's four sons and grandson have followed in his footsteps, each contributing unique skills to the family trade, ensuring the continuation of the craft.
Li Baoan imparts boat-making skills to his grandson Li Jinbiao (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Diejiao dragon boat drifting embodies an exhilarating tradition, skills, and community spirit, reflecting Foshan's rich cultural heritage and dedication to excellence.
Reporter | Chen Longyan
Editor | Will, James
