Taking the plunge

According to Fan, the traditional wooden dragon boat is about 15.5 meters long with a width of 1.1 m.

"The length totals 18.4 m including the dragon's head and tail. It can hold a drummer, a boatman and 20 rowers in the competition," he said.

The dragon boat race is thrilling for the crowd who watch the boats navigate the raging river and who can hear the rowers' shouts. Traditionally, the winners will be treated as heroes by the locals and visiting audience.

Zigui was named as the "hometown of the Chinese dragon boat" by the General Administration of Sport back in 2011 for its well-preserved boat racing traditions and involvement in organizing rowing competitions.

The county, rich in history and folk customs, has been developed into a popular destination for travelers. In 2017, Zigui was honored as one of China's most beautiful filming locations at the 74th Venice International Film Festival.