The annual dragon boat caiqing ceremony took place in Tianhe's Liede and Shipai villages on June 1. This ceremony is held to "awaken" the dragon boats for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, which is on June 10 this year.

Caiqing, which literally means "picking the green", is an important ceremony for dragon boat activities. After being buried in river mud for a year, dragon boats still lack vitality even after the "rising" ceremony, which celebrates the boats being dug out. They need to be "awakened" to embrace this year's activities in the best state, hence the need for this ceremony.

Dragon tails and heads, tied with red silk balls, are installed on the dragon boats during the caiqing ceremony, bearing good wishes of good fortune. Green seedlings, representing abundant harvests and favorable weather, are also placed at the bow and stern of the boats. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

With gongs, drums and firecrackers, dragon boats row up and down the river, marking that the "sleeping" dragon boats are completely woken up. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]