The annual Maoshan Boat Fair, a national intangible cultural heritage event, was held in Dainan town – in Xinghua city, administered by Taizhou in East China's Jiangsu province – on April 4, Tomb Sweeping Day.
Maoshan West River hosted a raft of boats and competing rowers at 10 am, with boats ready to set sail.
When the starting bell rang, racers shouted in unison, pulling the oars with all their strength, their exertions creating thousands of small waves on the water's surface.
The crowd on shore cheered the teams, with the excitement quickly building.
Boasting a history of over 800 years, the Maoshan Boat Fair held on Tomb Sweeping Day is a unique folk activity – formed by the people living in the Lixia River plain and by ancient rural customs.
Its origin mainly stems from the remembrance, reverence and sacrifice of the souls of nameless martyrs over the centuries who sacrificed their lives for their country.
The crowd cheers a boat race during the Maoshan Boat Fair. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]
Racing boats line up during the Maoshan Boat Fair, a national intangible cultural heritage event in Xinghua city. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]