As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, annual traditional events kicked off in GuangZhou on May 31.

This year the event will last for about 20 days until late June. The number of boats and spots grew dramatically compared with last year. Approximately 800 dragon boats are expected to compete in 150 plus different places, covering Zengcheng and 10 other districts in Guangzhou.

There are two kinds of dragon boat events. One is a Dragon Boat Race, a simple competition between ornate boats. The other is the viewing of Dragon Boats. It is an entertaining event intending to promote friendship between villages. Every year each village sends its own dragon boat to visit other villages in order to have a friendly cultural exchange.

Places and Competitions Recommended:

View of Shengchong (深涌景)

Best Viewing Point: Zhucun village (珠村)

Add.: Small River beside Dongpu Coach Terminal, Zhucun village, Zhongshangdadao Avenue, Tianhe district

Date: June 2

Transportation: Bus No.550, B3, B16, B17, B20, B5

Number of Boats: 50 to 60

View of Luntou (仑头景)

Best Viewing Point: Luntoucun Village (仑头村)

Add.: Luntoucun village, Haizhu district

Date: June 3

Transportation: Bus No.801

Number of Boats: 60 to 70

View of Longxi (龙溪景)

Best Viewing Point: chebeicun village (车陂村)

Add.:Chebeicun village, Tianhe district

Date: June 4

Transportation: Bus No. B3, B18, Metro Line 4

Number of Boats: over 70

View of Longtan and Datang (龙潭大塘景)

Best Viewing point: Longtancun village, Datancun village (龙潭村, 大塘村)

Add.: Longtancun village, Datancun village, Haizhu district

Date : June 5

Transportation: Metro Line 3, Bus No.583, 250, 270

Number of boats: about 40

View of Liede(猎德景) & View of Pantang (泮塘景)

Best Viewing Point: Liedecun village, Lizhiwanchong (荔枝湾涌)

Add.: 1.Liedecun village, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe district
2 .Lizhiwanchong, Liwan district

Date: June 6

Transportation:
To Liedecun Village: Metro Line 3, Bus No. 138, 886
To Lizhiwanchong: Bus No. 705, 17, 8, 5, 2, 52, 74

Number of Boats: 60 to 70 for Liedecun village
8 for Pantangcun village

The 13th Lianghua Cup and Yushang Cup Dragon Boat Race

Venue: Reach between Shiqiao bridge (市桥大桥)and Xili bridge (西丽大桥)

Participants: Traditional Dragon Boats, Standard Dragon Boats, Performance of Gaming Boats

Date: June 6

Transportation: take Metro Line 3 and get off at Panyu Square, where shuffle buses to the venue set off.

Nansha Dragon Boat Race

Venue：Jiaomen River, Nansha district

Participants: Traditional Dragon Boats, Canoe

Date: June 3, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Transportation: take Metro line 4 and get off at Jiaomen, then walk for 15 minutes to the venue

Feature: Participants from Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao will be involved.

Related Link: http://gzlc.5d6d.com/ Guangzhou Dragon Boats Forum (chinese)