Dragon boat teams from Baijiao Town took two of three first-place prizes as the community emerged as the overall winner at the Zhuhai Doumen Dragon Boat Cultural Festival at Xidi Park (西堤公园) of Jing'an Town (井岸镇) on May 19.

They were among 49 teams from the Greater Bay Area, including a record seven from Hong Kong and Macao and others from Europe and elsewhere, to vie furiously before thousands of cheering spectators along the Huangyang River.

The official Baijiao Dragon Boat team took first place in the Native Group with three straight wins helmed by Liang Zhanqiang. The 52-year-old, who has been on the team for more than 10 years, has been called a "dragon boat soul" figure.

Roaring to go

Liang has been fond of dragon boating throughout most of his life. In preparation this time, he left acres of fish ponds for his wife to tend while he trained daily with their son, said Huang Yaobin, head of the team.

The Liuxiang Central Elementary School Lianhe-Zhongxin Team won the second first-place prize for Baijiao in the Youngsters Group, while the Heshan 12 Dragon Boat team from the county-level city of Jiangmen successfully defended their title in the Open Group.

Baijiao Town, which is famous for the Nationally Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product Baijiao Sea Bass, is located just to the north across the river from the race site.

Viewing site

Dragon dance

Baijiao Dragon Boat team

Celebrations [Photos by Zeng Yao / Zhujiang Evening Post]