Xiqiao Dragon Boat Culture: The Soul of Lingnan for a Thousand Years

If you want to find the most authentic scene of dragon boat racing in Lingnan, Xiqiao in Foshan, Guangdong Province is an unmissable destination. In this specific destination, dragon boat racing is not merely a simple game of competition, but a cultural gene deeply engraved in the hearts of the people of the water town in Lingnan. Every oar and rudder conceals stories spanning a thousand years.

As the heartland of the water towns in the Pearl River Delta, Xiqiao is crossed by a network of rivers and has long been known for the tradition of “using boats as vehicles and oars as horses”. As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, local villagers would hold dragon boat races to pray for favorable weather. Over time, this practice evolved into a folk custom that connects relatives and unites the community. Nowadays in Xiqiao, from the elderly in their seventies to teenagers in their teens, everyone can tell a few stories passed down by their ancestors about dragon boats. In many villages, dragon boats are regarded as “family treasures”, with the wood grain of the boats soaked in the sweat of generations.

Unlike dragon boat races in other places, the dragon boat races in Xiqiao emphasize “unity” - the person at the bow controls the direction, the one at the stern keeps the rhythm steady, and the rowers in the middle must move in unison. Even if one person is half a bit behind, the entire boat may fall behind. Therefore, after each race, whether they win or lose, the villagers will gather to have a “dragon boat meal”, rewarding the team members with preserved meat, zongzi, and steamed fish, and chatting about the funny things that happened during the race. Friendship is more important than victory or defeat in Xiqiao dragon boat culture. In Xiqiao, dragon boats carry the memories of the people from the water town, heading towards a more vibrant future. If you have the chance to visit Xiqiao, you might as well stand by the riverbank, listen to the deafening drumbeats and watch the dragon boats cutting through the waves - that is the most vivid pulse of Lingnan, and the unity and strength engraved in the blood of the Chinese people.