Zhang Guomin (C) and his teammates assemble a dragon boat in Luodian Township, Baoshan District of east China's Shanghai, June 5, 2024. Originated in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the dragon boating customs in Luodian, located in east China's Shanghai Baoshan District, has kept prosperous with long-lasting vitality. Nowadays, the dragon boating customs in Luodian has become an iconic folk custom activity during Dragon Boat Festival in Shanghai. It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.
Over the years, Zhang Guomin and Zhang Guozhong from a shipbuilding family have been making efforts to preserve the dragon boat making techniques. They have been teaching younger generations to carry forward the dragon boat making techniques inherited from their father Zhang Fucheng, who died in 2017.
Luodian dragon boat is famous for its small size and exquisite design. It has a float bottom and a shallow draft, making it suitable for the narrow rivers locally. The craftsmanship embodied by the boats captures the essence of shipbuilding, architecture, sculpture, brocade, embroidery, flag making, lighting, painting and calligraphy, all in one. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
This photo taken on June 7, 2024 shows a scene of the dragon boat performance during the Baoshan Luodian dragon boat festival in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Zhang Guozhong carves a dragon boat model at a studio in Luodian Township, Baoshan District of east China's Shanghai, June 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 6, 2024 shows a Luodian dragon boat sailing on the water of Meilan Lake in Baoshan District, east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Zhang Guozhong (1st R) and Zhang Guomin (2nd L) discuss the boats position during a rehearsal in Luodian Township, Baoshan District of east China's Shanghai, June 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
This file photo taken on May 26, 2017 shows Zhang Guozhong demonstrating rowing skills to his teammates in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Zhang Guozhong assists his teammates to sail the dragon boat out of the dock during a rehearsal in Luodian Township, Baoshan District of east China's Shanghai, June 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Zhang Guozhong (1st R) explains rowing skills to rowers in Luodian Township, Baoshan District of east China's Shanghai, June 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
This photo taken on June 7, 2024 shows a scene of the dragon boat performance during the Baoshan Luodian dragon boat festival in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
This file photo taken on May 25, 2017 shows Zhang Guomin (C) installing brackets in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
This file photo taken on April 24, 2017 shows Zhang Fucheng making a wooden dragon boat model in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Zhang Guomin attends a ceremony before the departure of dragon boats during the Baoshan Luodian dragon boat festival in east China's Shanghai, June 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
This file photo taken on May 25, 2017 shows Zhang Fucheng (R) guiding the installation of a dragon boat in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
