A Great Tradition
Dragon boat racing has a long history. The tradition of dragon boat racing started almost 2,000 years ago in China. 1
You can see dragon boats in action in many countries around the world today. They have brightly coloured dragon's heads and tails. 2 In China, the dragon is an important symbol of strength and power.
3 These can include the head of a camel, the antlers(角) of a deer, the claws of an eagle, and the scales of a fish! Before the race, the dragon boat has to be “woken up”, or made ready to race. In a special ceremony, the dragon's eyes are painted with a dot. Painting the dragon's eyes is said to wake the sleeping dragon. 4 Each boat usually has 20 paddlers(划桨手) who sit side by side in rows of two. There is also someone at the back to steer(掌舵) the boat, and a drummer at the front who sets the pace.
Dragon boat racing is a fast-growing sport. 5 Going to watch these dragons on the water is a fun way to celebrate this exciting part of Chinese culture.