Guangzhou’s Huakeng Village Serves Up the Aroma of a Dragon Boat Feast

On June 18, a lively Dragon Boat Feast was held in Huakeng Village, Huangpu District.
Dragon boats visit Huakeng Village in Hongshan Subdistrict, Huangpu District, on June 18 as part of the traditional custom known as “visiting relatives by dragon boat.” Photo by Yang Yaoye, Guangzhou Daily Media Group.
At dawn on June 18, Huakeng Village in Shuangsha Community, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, was already bustling with activity.
More than 10 red tents had been set up on open ground in the village. Under the canopies, chopping boards were laid out and large stoves were burning. As pork belly hit the hot wok with a sizzling sound, preparations for the Dragon Boat Feast began.
“Dragon boat racing is an essential part of the Dragon Boat Festival. In the past, when paddlers raced, households pooled money and ingredients to prepare dragon boat meals for them. Later, as living conditions improved, the meals became reunion banquets. In addition to the paddlers, the village also invites elderly residents and friends from nearby villages to celebrate the festival together,” Jian Zhibin, head of the Fifth Residents’ Group of Shuangsha Community, told reporters.
According to Jian, the local community has a tradition known as “visiting relatives by dragon boat,” in which dragon boats pay ceremonial visits to neighboring villages. Dragon boat racing is therefore regarded as a symbol of reunion.
After noon, the returning paddlers marched through the village carrying banners, while firecrackers crackled all around. The Dragon Boat Feast then began. Crispy roast pork glistened in golden-red hues, Shenjing roast goose carried a distinctive wood-fired aroma, and poached chicken was tender and flavorful.
During the banquet, villagers exchanged a traditional Cantonese blessing: “After eating the Dragon Boat Feast, everything will go smoothly.” Warm wishes flowed amid laughter and cheerful conversation. (By Chen Huijuan and Wu Chunyan, Guangming Daily)