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Teaming up and sailing ahead on dragon boat races

CCTV.com

01-25-2017 14:19 BJT

By CCTV.com Panview editor team     

Editor’s foreword: "Looking China" International Youth Film Project is co-organized by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture (AICCC), Beijing Normal University and Huilin Foundation, which aims to showcase the contrasting simplicity and glamour, the antiquity and fashion of China through unique perspectives of young foreign film makers.

The film, Fifth Day Fifth Month, directed by Nikita Sampath, takes a closer look at the Chinese love affair for Dragon Boat races, which are scheduled annually on the Dragon Boat Festival that falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar.

Dragon boat races tend to be more popular in southern China with its warmer climate, wet weather and rivers surrounding the region. Teams gather to participate in races as each team undergo extensive training and in some cases, practice year-round.

The teams get more competitive as the holiday season draws near. Some train together every weekend for 2-3 months straight before the big races.

Racers say they spend so much time with the team that those on their boat are just like family for them. Many wives and children come along to provide their support and encouragement.

Additionally, those celebrating on the Dragon Boat Festival, prepare a special food, known as zongzi, with rice and other ingredients steamed and wrapped in a zong leaf, usually a kind of wide bamboo leaf. The video follows a grandmother preparing the Chinese snack for her family members.

Chinese customs remain firm in Southern China, despite the region’s fast developing economy and rapid social changes.

 

(The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com)

Panview offers a new window of understanding the world as well as China through the views, opinions, and analysis of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

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