Tonglu's Ancient Village Shines with Spectacular Dragon Boat Festival Traditions

On May 31, a spectacular Dragon Boat Festival celebration lit up the ancient village of Huigang in Fengchuan Subdistrict, Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province. This millennia-old event featured a majestic parade of a century-old water dragon praying for blessing, lifelike reenactments of classic comic scenes, and immersive performances set against the backdrop of Ming and Qing era buildings. Visitors strolled through the village not just as spectators, but as participants, as if stepping into a living ink painting of Dragon Boat Festival customs.

Water Dragon Parade Praying for Blessing 

At 10 o'clock, a ceremonial banner led the way as gongs and drums echoed through the village. An antique water dragon from 1892, weighing about 100 kilograms, raised its head and began its grand procession. Ten villagers powered the wooden lever to shoot a 20-meter jet of water into the sky, casting a rainbow mist over the ancient blue stone-paved streets. Visitors laughed and cheered as they welcomed the spray, embracing the blessing it symbolized.

"This century-old tradition serves both as a fire drill and a blessing ritual during the festival," explained Wu Xiaoming, Secretary of Party Committee of Huigang Village.

As the inspiration behind Ye Qianyu's Fuchun Figure Painting, the over-1,300-year-old Huigang Village brought to life 15 bustling scenes from the artwork, recreating them in full scale for the festival.

Dragon Boat Festival Customs

In a grocery shop, the scene titled Indocalamus Leaves: Prime Materials for Zongzi Wrapping came to life as visitors wrote "Peaceful and Healthy Dragon Boat Festival" on fresh bamboo leaves. A nostalgic store recreated the scene Busy Hands in a Village Shop, with villagers selling childhood treats like bubble gum and preserved plum pellets. The barbershop brought back the artwork From Barber's Shack to Hair Salon, while outside the bun stall, steamed buns featured in Buns and Wontons on a Shoulder Pole quickly sold out.

As the sound of traditional opera drifted from a nearby stage, opera performer Han Mengxi broke into an impromptu excerpt from The Tale of Chunhyang. "I'd just watched the water dragon show when I stumbled upon this delightful, resonating stage - this Dragon Boat Festival has been such a joy," she said.

It is said that Huigang Village is expected to have over 20,000 visits in a single day during the festival. (Text and Photo by Wu Xiaosha, Liu Jie, Yu Xinbiao, Sun Xinyi, and Li Wen)