The Maoshan Boat Festival arrived as scheduled in Maoshan village, Dainan town, Xinghua city, East China's Jiangsu province, on April 4.
It's known as Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, with the traditional Chinese sport of dragon boat racing creating great excitement.
At around 9 am, the boats set off at top speed accompanied by the sound of gongs, turning the river into a roiling water battlefield.
From a bird's-eye view, the boats seemed to be a group of dragons playing in the water, speeding along the wide waterway. In the viewer stands on shore, thousands of spectators held their breath and watched, suddenly bursting into thunderous cheers.
The festival has a long history stretching back over 800 years and it's a unique folk activity formed by local people in their water-based environment and by the customs of long-term agricultural production.
The event stems from the nostalgia, reverence and sacrifice for the souls of those unnamed martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Traditional Maoshan boat racing attracts crowds of locals. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]
Featured folk performances add real fun to the boat event. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]