The appearance of the dragon boat. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]

On May 13, a traditional dragon boat launch ceremony was held near Longzhou East Street in Panyu district for five newly crafted traditional dragon boats from Renhe town, Baiyun district.

The five dragon boats were beautifully decorated in the morning. They featured dragon heads and tails, with the dragon heads adorned with two pheasant feathers and the boat bodies decorated with pennants bearing the names of their respective dragon boat teams. They were all made of Kundian wood and each had a length of around 40 meters.

Luo Jianfeng, president of the Renhe Town Dragon Boat Association, stated that according to tradition, each new traditional dragon boat should be longer than the previous one, symbolizing a better life. These newly customized dragon boats, using new techniques, weigh about 2 metric tons, whereas the traditional Kundian wood dragon boats weighed around 3 tons, which will help increase the overall speed of the dragon boat teams.

Each dragon boat team dispatched a team of 60 members. After a simple worship ceremony, the drum of the dragon boat was beaten, and team members stood on both sides of the dragon boat, slowly pushing it into the water. The five dragon boats were launched in turn and then finally returned to Renhe town through the waterway.

Dragon boat culture in Renhe town has been passed down for centuries, symbolizing the strength of a village. After the five new dragon boats are returned to the town, they will undergo training to prepare for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival.

The boat is adorned with pennants. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]