Core Viewpoint - The event held at Dazeh Lake near Changsha, Hunan, featured a unique dry dragon boat race and various traditional cultural activities, creating an immersive experience for visitors during the Dragon Boat Festival [1][4]. Group 1: Event Highlights - A dry dragon boat race was organized, where participants used inflatable dragon boats, fostering teamwork and creating a lively atmosphere despite the absence of water [4]. - The event included interactive game zones, such as a grass-leaf competition and traditional cultural quizzes, allowing participants to learn about Dragon Boat Festival traditions [6]. - Popular games like the "Sticky Rice Dumpling Challenge" tested participants' patience, with rewards of dumpling models that could be exchanged for real treats [8]. Group 2: Cultural Activities - The "Shooting the Five Poisons" game involved archery at targets depicting harmful creatures, promoting the custom of driving away toxins during the festival [10]. - Traditional games such as cuju (kick the ball) and投壶 (pitch pot) were also featured, with winners receiving creative cultural prizes [10]. - Craft activities included making small dumplings and painting unique fans, allowing visitors, especially children, to engage in traditional crafts [12]. Group 3: Ecological Context - Dazeh Lake near Changsha covers an area of nearly 3,000 acres, hosting over 110 species of aquatic plants and nearly 200 bird species, providing a natural setting for the festival [15]. - The immersive experience from learning to make dumplings to observing rice fields exemplifies the cultural connection between food and agriculture [17].

Group 1: Dragon Boat Racing in Fujian - The dragon boat race in Yunxiao County, Zhangzhou, Fujian, is a significant cultural event held annually around the Dragon Boat Festival, lasting over a month [1] - The unique "Chase the Green" racing format involves two boats racing in a circular pattern, creating a competitive atmosphere that can last for hours if teams are evenly matched [3] - Women's teams, consisting of 16 members each, actively participate in the races, showcasing their skills and competitive spirit [5] Group 2: Traditional Crafts and Cultural Products - As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, there is a surge in demand for traditional handicrafts, with artisans in Datong, Shanxi, busy producing colorful ropes and sachets [5][7] - Artisans are leveraging online platforms to expand their sales networks, distributing traditional crafts nationwide [7] - The local intangible cultural heritage of Datong knotting is also experiencing increased sales, with artisans creating intricate sachets filled with medicinal herbs and spices [9] Group 3: Gourd Crafting in Northeast China - In Northeast China, particularly in Heilongjiang, gourds are traditionally hung during the Dragon Boat Festival, believed to ward off evil and bring good fortune [10] - Gourd crafting involves various artistic techniques, including carving and painting, to create intricate designs that reflect cultural significance [12] - The gourd crafting skills of artisans like Zheng Guohua are being passed down through generations, emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and craftsmanship [15][20]

Group 1 - The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching, with various dragon boat races taking place across the country, including the 18th Furongjiang Dragon Boat Championship held in Chongqing, featuring 21 teams and over 570 participants [1][5] - The competition includes 200-meter and 500-meter straight races, with teams from Guangdong, Sichuan, and Chongqing participating, where the Zhaoqing team and the Hechuan team won first place in their respective categories [5] - In Putian, Fujian, local teams are intensively training for over 20 dragon boat events scheduled for the 2025 Dragon Boat Festival, utilizing a self-made training pool to prepare [6][8] Group 2 - The training pool in Huangshi Town is designed to standard specifications, allowing up to 30 people to train simultaneously, enhancing the effectiveness of training in static water conditions [10][13] - The coordination between drummers and paddlers is crucial, as the drummer controls the rhythm to optimize the paddlers' performance, emphasizing teamwork and practice [18] - Young people are returning to their hometowns to participate in dragon boat training, highlighting the cultural significance and community involvement in preserving dragon boat traditions [17][20] Group 3 - In Jiangsu Zhangjiagang, the annual "Bamboo Bucket Race" is a unique local custom during the Dragon Boat Festival, where participants use bamboo buckets to race, reflecting the region's cultural heritage [21][27] - The bamboo bucket, approximately 1.3 meters long, is used individually, emphasizing skill and balance rather than speed, showcasing a different aspect of water sports [22][24] - The festive atmosphere in Zhangjiagang includes various activities, such as crafting traditional zongzi and creating fashionable accessories from mugwort, enhancing community engagement during the festival [30][32][34]