On May 24th, the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, dragon boat dens (longchuandou, the underwater storage sites) across Guangzhou and Foshan buzzed with festive energy. "Awakening the Dragon" (Qi Long) ceremonies were held at locations including Pantang in Liwan District and Shipai in Tianhe District. The "dormant dragons," having lain buried in the riverbed silt for a full year, shook off the mud and emerged from the water, officially raising the curtain on the Dragon Boat Festival season.

Early that morning, different groups of villagers from Pantang set off from the Liang Family Ancestral Hall, the Dragon Boat Association, and the Sanguan Temple. Their procession was heralded by the beat of gongs and drums and colorful flags fluttering in the breeze. As the auspicious hour arrived, horns sounded in unison. Dozens of robust young men waded barefoot into the water, chanting rhythmically as they inched the dragon boats upward. Nine boats were successively hauled to the surface, including two fiberglass vessels.

Particular attention was drawn to "Renwei No. 1," an ancient dragon boat. Crafted during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty and stretching 38.3 meters in length, the vessel is made from Kapur hardwood (traditionally revered locally as Kundian wood). As one of the oldest surviving dragon boats in Liwan, it is immediately recognizable for its distinct and striking "bulging-eye dragon" prow design.

Once washed clean and adorned with decorations, the boats were immediately put to the test on the water. In high spirits, the village crews drove their dragon boats back and forth across Liwan Lake. Drumbeats urged the paddles on, sending spray flying into the air to the continuous cheers of spectators lining the banks. Pantang women also took to the water in "phoenix boats" (vessels rowed exclusively by women) to add to the festive atmosphere. The vibrant pageant of the dragon boat season had truly begun.

Following the dragon boat awakening ceremony, the paddlers meticulously scrubbed the hulls clean of silt and mud. The boats were then sent to shipyards for inspection, repair, and structural tuning, before being coated with lard, a time-honored preservative treatment to condition the wooden hulls. Resplendent and renewed, the mighty dragons now await the fierce competition of the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival races.

Source:PEARL

猛龙重出江湖！广州荔湾泮塘、天河石牌等村落龙船出水

5月24日，农历四月初八，广佛多处“龙船窦”热闹起来，荔湾泮塘、天河石牌等地的起龙仪式分别举行，沉睡一年的“潜龙”抖落泥浆浮出水面，端午龙船季序幕正式拉开。

当日一早，泮塘首二三约、四约、五约的村民分别从梁家祠、龙船会和三官庙出发，锣鼓开道，彩旗飘扬。吉时一到，号角齐鸣，数十名青壮年赤脚下水，呐喊着将龙船一寸寸抬起，9条龙船陆续出水（首、二、三约3条、四约1条、五约5条，包括2条玻璃钢材质龙船）。

首、二、三约的“仁威一号”老龙尤受瞩目。它诞生于明嘉靖年间，全长38.3米，由坤甸木打造，是荔湾现存最古老的龙船之一，独特的“凸眼龙”设计格外醒目。

龙船洗净、装点后随即试水。各约村民精神抖擞，龙船在荔湾湖来回穿梭，鼓点催桨，水花飞溅，岸上欢呼不断，泮塘妇女也划起“凤船”助兴。龙船季的热闹图景就此铺开。

起龙之后，“桡手”们细心清洗船身、擦拭除泥，随后将龙船送往船厂检修调校、涂抹猪油保养。龙船焕发新彩，直待端午竞渡时。

文、图｜记者 江皓轩 徐炜伦
译｜陈冠臻
英文审校｜林佳岱