Taihu village in Hongqiao town, Changxing county, Huzhou was awash with vibrant hues as a stunning dragon boat, bedecked with an assortment of flowers and flags, set sail on May 23.

The event unfolded as part of a ceremonial tribute in hopes of a year of good weather, while also heralding the imminent arrival of the Dragon Boat Festival, known as the Duanwu Festival. Traditionally observed on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, this year's festivities are scheduled for June 10.

The flower dragon boat, esteemed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Zhejiang, typically spans 7 meters in length and is 2 meters at its widest. Across Huzhou, every village lining the shores of Taihu Lake features these flower-adorned dragon boats, a tradition that culminates in spirited races around the Duanwu Festival each year.