On May 13, a dragon boat manufactured in 1984 was unearthed in Xiaozhou village, symbolizing the "Flying Dragon of Yingzhou" and bringing much honor and prestige to the village.

Xiaozhou village, once known as "Yingzhou", is located on Huazhou Street, southeast of Haizhu district in Guangzhou, covering an area of 4.5 square kilometers.

Established in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Xiaozhou is a rare Lingnan water village, known for its orchards that are a vital part of Guangzhou's "southern lung". It is surrounded by rivers and waterways, with a 10-km-long network nurturing Xiaozhou's unique water village culture.

The village is crisscrossed with waterways and rivers. It has a long history of dragon boat activities, with uniquely crafted dragon boats featuring a golden dragon head and a light and lovely body made of Kundian wood.

Before the Dragon Boat Festival each year, the "Awakening the Dragon Boat" ceremony takes place, followed by lively dragon boat races and other festivities. 

The village boasts numerous immovable cultural heritage sites such as ancient village walls, temples, ancestral halls, academies, archways, residences, ancient bridges, and docks. In 2000, it was listed as one of the first "Historical and Cultural Protection Areas" in Guangzhou.

As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, more activities like picking greens, family visits, and dragon boat feasts are eagerly anticipated by the villagers.

Villagers in Xiaozhou village extend activity invitations to sister villages. [Photo by Liang Jiawen/WeChat account: gzhzfb]]

Locals in Xiaozhou village watch the dragon boat race under banyan trees. [Photo by Xie Huiqiang/WeChat account: gzhzfb]]