Dragon boats awakened in Liwan

Pantang in Liwan District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province has launched its annual traditional Qilongchuan, a ceremony which literally means to dig the dragon boat out of river sludge. Traditionally, villagers start digging their dragon boats that had been put underwater for protection on the eighth day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar, which falls on May 15 this year. In Guangzhou, locals usually prepare sacrificial offerings and perform special rituals before bringing the boats above water. They will then clean the boats with special tools and adorn them with distinct decorations.