As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, craftsmen at Huo Wobiao Dragon Boat Factory in Zhongtang Town, Dongguan, Guangdong, are giving the dragon boats a final polish. Huo Wobiao is a representative inheritor of dragon boat crafting skills. Walking amidst scattered wood shavings and scraps of red firecracker paper, he hurries to complete the task at hand.

The period before and after the Dragon Boat Festival is the busiest time for dragon boat factories. Zhongtang Town in Dongguan is known as the "Homeland of Chinese Dragon Boats". The dragon boat crafting skills here have a history of over 300 years and were listed in the second batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. Zhongtang Town has earned the reputation of "the best dragon boats are crafted in Zhongtang."

"People often ask me what makes a good dragon boat," said Huo Wobiao, pointing to a cylindrical "bottom" of the boat. "The bottom is the most important part. The first step in making a dragon boat is to make the bottom. The parabolic shape and structure determine the draft." He continued, adding that the keel needs to be made of vertically grown fir trees, which are rigid and sturdy, allowing the boat to move forward like an arrow, fast and stable.

In the year of the dragon, people flock to witness dragon boat races. In recent days, the scene of dragon boat races has been vibrant and lively on rivers of all sizes across the Pearl River Delta. The beating of drums resonates, and shouts fill the air. The dragon is a totem of the Chinese nation, woven into the fabric of traditional folk customs throughout China. Dragon boat racing, with a history spanning over a thousand years, is one such manifestation. People translate their reverence and awe for the dragon into the tangible form of dragon boats, paddling fervently to pray for favorable weather, national prosperity, and people's safety.

While the forms and customs of dragon boats may vary slightly across different regions, each possesses its own unique characteristics. However, whether one is involved in the crafting or paddling of dragon boats, the spirit of unity and bravery, highlighted through this vessel, remains consistent.

Source:Yangcheng Evening News

“龙舟之乡”寻“龙”记

端午临近，广东东莞中堂镇霍沃标龙船厂的师傅们正为龙舟抛光打磨，进行最后的冲刺。霍沃标是龙舟制作技艺代表性传承人，他走在散落满地的木屑和鞭炮红纸上，脚步匆匆。

端午前后正是龙舟工厂最繁忙的时刻。东莞市中堂镇是“中国龙舟之乡”，这里的龙舟制作技艺已有300多年历史，2008年被列入第二批国家级非物质文化遗产名录，素有“好龙舟，中堂造”的美誉。

“经常有人问我什么是好的龙舟。”霍沃标指着一个圆柱状的“船底”，“底部是最重要的，做龙舟第一步是做底，抛物线、结构决定了吃水深度。”他接着补充，底骨需要选垂直的大杉树，硬挺坚固，船才能如飞箭般往前冲，又快又稳。

龙年看龙舟。连日来，在珠三角大大小小的河道上，龙舟竞渡“狂飙”之景如火如荼。鼓声阵阵、呐喊不断。龙是中华民族的图腾，贯穿在中国各地传统民俗之中。有着上千年历史的龙舟竞渡是表现形式之一。人们把对龙图腾的崇拜和敬畏之心，化作龙舟这一具象，以扒龙舟的方式祈求风调雨顺、国泰民安。

即使各区域龙舟的形制、习俗略有不同，各具特色，但无论对“造龙者”还是“划龙者”而言，借助龙舟这一载体凸显的团结一心、奋勇争先的精神是一致的。

统筹｜邓琼 侯恕望 朱绍杰
采写｜周欣怡 梁善茵
拍摄｜钟振彬
剪辑｜王炯勋 黎杰文
翻译｜林佳岱