Let’s Celebrate the Most Cheerful Dragon Festivals Along the Lijiang’s Banks

The dragon, majestic and revered, soars through skies and waters. It brings rain, shapes clouds, and protects the agricultural roots of Chinese civilization. For centuries, dragon festivals have thrived along the Lijiang's banks. On a bright morning, 80-year-old Ouyang Yi enjoys stretching his muscles and singing ancient dragon boat songs by the river outside his home. A yellow dragon must be painted yellow. A black dragon, black. A green dragon, green. This tradition has been passed down and must not be altered. I've been carving dragon heads since 1987, nearly 30 years now. For decades, the dragon heads Ouyang carves have adorned the dragon boats of the Lijiang River. I customize tools based on what's needed. The dragon's mouth, eyes, and nose must all exude strength and majesty. They have to look impressive. The dragon totem is one of China's most widespread folk beliefs. Seen as a symbol of natural forces, the dragon is invoked for bountiful harvests and favorable weather. Dragon eyes painted, spirit complete. With its commanding head, the boat is ready for the most vibrant event, the dragon boat races. As Duanwu Festival nears, villages along the Lijiang begin their dragon-themed celebrations. After a ceremony, the dragon head is paraded through the streets, officially announcing the arrival of the boating racing. Four ethnic groups by the Lijiang, dragon boat racing is a cherished tradition. In Guilin dialect, it simply means to row dragon boats. The tradition follows a cycle, a small race every five years, a grand one every ten. Around Duanwu, the southeastern monsoon brings rain, swelling the Lijiang with abundant water. Longmen Village has four dragon boats stored in specially built boathouses. Before the races, the boats are freshly painted and adorned. During Duanwu, it will represent Guilin City in hosting an international dragon boat competition. In rowing, we must never lose. Dragon boating is our village's tradition. In Guilin City, Longmen Village is one of the best at it. Rice dumplings scent fills the air and mugwort leaves shine green. Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a time for tradition, joy, and heartfelt emotions of remembrance and hope. By the Lingchu Canal, Dayu Village's dragon boat team is gearing up to launch. Beat the drum slower and harder, one beat at a time. Starting at Lingchu Canal's ancient V-shaped dam, boats enter North Canal via South Floodgate. Built during the Qin Dynasty, it links the Xiangjiang and Lijiang River, uniting northern and southern China by waterway. The dragon's symbolism flowed southward, spreading across Lingnan's vast lands. Dragon boats parade along the canal, spreading blessings to riverside villages. In the mid-reaches of the Lijiang, dragon boats from different villages perform the traditional Zou Long Qin ceremony. At neighboring villages, boats dock for rituals and offerings, exchanging blessings and heartfelt sentiments. Zou Long Qin reflects the unity of dragon descendants and the deep bonds of kinship. The Duanwu dragon boat races here have a style of their own. On the main festival day, boats from numerous villages gather, not to race for speed, but to showcase their decorations, costumes, and performances. Paddling and performing, these displays create a symphony unique to the Lijiang. Before the races, villagers gather at the temple to pledge unity. The Longmen village dragon boat team competes against 24 teams from China and abroad. The final of the 500-meter straight race is about to begin. That was an incredible race. Victory and defeat are part of the competition, but the dragon boat spirit must never falter. The dragon boat spirit of Longmen village is about unity and striving for excellence. It's deeply ingrained in our minds and runs through our veins. In May, the Banlei Jia terraced fields enter the busy rice-planting season. Over the years, the Yao and Zhuang people have cultivated these terraces, planting rice, and preserving the tradition of mutual assistance. Hey, we've arrived. Thank you for coming. No need for formalities. In rural life, farming depends on the heavens. Rain is under the dragon's control, and water is essential for growing rice. To us, the dragon is a symbol of good fortune. After the planting season, Wei Honi starts weaving a straw dragon using glutinous rice straw saved from last year's harvest. Thin, long, and flexible, this straw is ideal for making durable straw dragons. Its color and flexibility make it the best material for weaving straw dragons. Weaving a straw dragon is a major village event. A 20-meter-long straw dragon requires over 3,000 woven straw scales. In rural China, amidst vast mountains and rivers, people live in harmony with nature, supporting one another. After the beginning of autumn, the rice plants produce full golden grains. Villagers dance with the straw dragon, parading through the fragrant terraced fields. Dancing the straw dragon is a tradition to drive away pests and pray for peace, good fortune, and a bountiful harvest. The dragon's golden body means abundance and prosperity, reflecting the hope for a year of plentiful harvests and flourishing homes. In midsummer, Liang Jiaqing and his apprentice select bamboo for crafting a dragon head. This one's old bamboo. Perfect, we'll take it. We always choose bamboo that's at least three years old. Once dried, it shrinks less and becomes sturdier. Over 700 years ago, Liang's ancestors migrated from Shandong Province to Longhu Village, bringing their dragon-making skills with them. Crafting a dragon involves over 40 steps. Techniques passed down from Liang's master are now being taught to the next generation. Look at the curve, it's perfectly rounded. When you touch it, it bounces back like a ball. Each part taken from 10 to 20 animals is combined to form the dragon. Every detail needs to stand out. My master used to give us drawings to guide us in capturing the dragon's expression. Before, we used straight lines to represent a fish fin. Now we make it more dynamic, curving it into a nest shape for movement. Northern dragons don't use candles, so their bodies are cylindrical and enclosed. Southern dragons, like ours, use fabric and require candles inside every section. If it's sealed, you can't place the candles. The dragon is a spiritual totem created by the Chinese people. Since ancient times, it has appeared in daily life, reflecting the aesthetics of each era, while its form evolves. Belief in the dragon remains steadfast. As the 12th lunar month approaches, Li Yuetao prepares for the annual dragon lantern dance. It's been so long. Most of the young people work elsewhere and only return for the new year. So we're out of practice. The last time they did this was five years ago. To ensure a great performance, the team trains rigorously. We perform a ceremony to invite the dragon spirit, starting at the spring known as Dragon Well. For peace, abundant harvests and smooth sailing ahead. The dragon, soaring through clouds and mist, brings life-giving rain. The team stops at every village well to offer blessings and prayers for safety. My main concern tonight is the weather. If it rains, the lanterns will get heavier. And I'm afraid we won't hold up. The dragon lantern dance is performed at night. And in Liangjiang town, it's a spectacular sight. At the auspicious hour, firecrackers explode, signaling the start of the performance. Our tradition is to explode the dragon. It takes a lot of courage. If you're scared of getting burned, you can't perform it. The dragon gives us bravery and unites our strength. We strive to live like the dragon, bold and unstoppable. As spring festival nears, Yao Wenzhong hangs lanterns. For the year of the dragon, 2024, he was chosen by the villagers to lead the dragon dance because his family spans four generations. Great-grandfather, happy new year. Wishing you good health. At Shanzhou village, a tradition dating back hundreds of years is still honored. It happens only once every 12 years. This is our tradition. Dragon dances only in the year of the dragon. From Lunar New Year's second day, the team visits a different village each day, performing the Zou Long Qin ceremony for 12 consecutive days. The team has 15 performers, but the entire group, including helpers, reaches 190 to 200 people. Our village is very united. Without unity, managing such a large event would be impossible. Every year of the dragon, villagers put aside their daily tasks to dedicate themselves to this grand tradition. Congratulations. On the 15th day of the first lunar month, the entire village comes together, with Zou Long Qin completed. The village now welcomes guests from the 12 visited villages, with a six-day celebration of banquets and performances, starting on the 16th day. After the ceremony, we're not allowed to eat fish or shrimp from the river, and no aquatic food is permitted on our tables. The time for joyous gatherings has arrived. Shanzhou village greets its guests with the utmost hospitality. Daughters returning home dress in their finest. Radiating happiness, food, family, and celebration express hopes for good fortune in the year ahead. Happy New Year. Prosperous Year of the Dragon. As night falls, the Dragon Lantern Dance begins, a moment 12 years in the making. The first circle forms the character for blessing, the second for prosperity, and the third for longevity. Firecrackers roar and fireworks light up the sky. Descendants of the Dragon unite in love and tradition. Happy New Year. Lift. Inviting the Dragon King to ascend. The Dragon is sacred. We admire and respect it, passing this tradition from one generation to the next. We teach children to row, drum, and sing Dragon Boat songs, to ensure its legacy continues. The Dragon Festival carries on, and the descendants of the Dragon thrive. Unity, cooperation, and fearless determination. This is the most beautiful spiritual portrait of the Lijiang.