CHANGSHA, June 20, 2026 (Xinhua) -- From early Friday morning, waterways crisscrossing Chinese cities, towns and villages have been reverberating with the rhythmic splash of paddles and the beat of drums as people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. While this centuries-old sport traditionally honors Qu Yuan, a legendary poet and minister in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), who drowned himself in the Miluo River after being slandered and then exiled, its modern-day form continues to bring people together and, in particular, strengthens community bonds. From June 18 to 19, the Miluo River hosted the finals of Hunan Province's top dragon boat league. This year's competition, which began in April with nine regional qualifiers, brought together the best crews from across the province for a thrilling showdown.
Off the water, the race is also big business. Miluo is home to nearly 20 boat-building workshops, producing over 5,000 dragon boats a year, mostly sold across China and to Southeast Asia.
Today, Miluo is weaving together sport, culture, and tourism to turn its status as the "birthplace of the Dragon Boat Festival" into a living brand. By blending intangible heritage with competitive racing, the ancient river is writing a vibrant new chapter.
25-year-old Liao Kangni is a new recruit for the local dragon boat team, but dragon boat racing has been passed down in his family for four generations. Having grown up to the beat of dragon boat drums by the river, Liao finally got the chance to paddle in the race.
Zeng, who had been working in Angola, Africa, made a special trip back to Miluo this year to participate in the 2026 Hunan Dragon Boat Super League.
Over 60 years old, Xu is the representative inheritor of the Miluo dragon boat making technique, a Hunan provincial intangible cultural heritage item. The craft has been passed down through five generations in his family, with Xu as the fifth-generation inheritor.
