Guizhou's Jinjiang River hosts holiday dragon boat races

Dragon boat teams gather along the Jinjiang River on June 18 in Tongren, Guizhou province, to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival. [Photo by the Tongren Bijiang District Integrated Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Dragon boat teams from villages across the region gathered on the Jinjiang River over the holiday in Tongren, Guizhou province, to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival.

The host area, Bijiang district, has long been known for its tradition of dragon boat racing. Local accounts trace the practice to festival-season rituals held when rising river waters were linked to offerings to the dragon deity and prayers for a good harvest.

In Friday's final, 24 leading teams competed in men's traditional paddling, men's freestyle paddling, and women's traditional races.

Dragon boat teams gather along the Jinjiang River on June 18 in Tongren, Guizhou province, to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival. [Photo by the Tongren Bijiang District Integrated Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Dragon boat teams gather along the Jinjiang River on June 18 in Tongren, Guizhou province, to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival. [Photo by the Tongren Bijiang District Integrated Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Dragon boat teams gather along the Jinjiang River on June 18 in Tongren, Guizhou province, to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival. [Photo by the Tongren Bijiang District Integrated Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn