Cultural-Tourism Fusion Ignites New Vitality in Millennia-Old Zhenyuan

Under the scorching July sun, the ancient town of Zhenyuan in Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, came alive with the "Zhenyuan Dragon Boat Intangible Cultural Heritage Week," injecting fresh energy into this millennia-old cultural gem.

Dragon Boat Race

Photo by Jiang Chunjian

The week opened with the "Saidong Qianjing" Guizhou Dragon Boat Championship, where ten elite teams competed on the Wuyang River. Teams from Qiandongnan Prefecture and Zhenyuan County stood out, claiming gold and silver in the 200m and 500m sprints. This was followed by the "Min Ti Cup" National Dragon Boat and Single-log Rafting (Bamboo Drifting) Competitions, bringing together nearly 400 athletes from various ethnic groups across China. Guizhou’s teams swept first-place honors in the dragon boat events, while titles in the bamboo drifting races went to athletes from Hebei, Guangxi, and Hubei. Local athlete Ouyang Zhangcai earned second place in the men’s 100-meter bamboo drifting race.

Single-log Rafting (Bamboo Drifting) Competition

Photo by Wu Xianhe

This five-day cultural-sports-tourism extravaganza attracted 201,400 visitors—an increase of 25.8% year-on-year—and generated ¥198 million in tourism revenue, up 27.6%. Visitor numbers at the Zhenyuan Ancient City Scenic Area alone surged by 34.5%.

"Dragon God’s Sister Wedding" Parade

Photo by Jiang Chunjian

Festivities extended beyond the racecourse. In the live performance area, intangible cultural heritage took center stage with shows like the Miao bench dance and Tujia nuo opera. A hands-on dragon boat paddling experience allowed visitors to experience the thrill of racing firsthand. By night, activities such as the "Moonlit Wuyang River Cruise" and the "Dragon God’s Sister Wedding" parade seamlessly blended the ancient cityscape with rich folk traditions.

Night Cruise on the Wuyang River

Photo by Che Fenglu

Zhenyuan’s dragon boat tradition, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, has long served as a cultural bond fostering ethnic unity and integration. In recent years, the town has deepened its commitment to cultural preservation through the construction of heritage exhibition halls and dragon boat production bases, the development of creative cultural products, and initiatives to bring intangible heritage into schools and communities. Today, what began as a single sporting event has evolved into a premier cultural tourism highlight. With an emphasis on immersive cultural consumption and living heritage, the millennia-old town of Zhenyuan continues to thrive with renewed vitality.(Author: Pan Wencai)