The 2024 Dragon Boat Race and the Duck Catching Activity were held in Fenghuang Ancient Town of Xiangxi Prefecture on June 10.
The “battle” for ducks attracted tens of thousands of tourists and citizens to feel the strong folk customs of Fenghuang, presenting the lively scene at the Dragon Boat Festival in the “Border Town” written by Shen Congwen, one of the most influential modern Chinese writers.
At 15:30 on the day, the long-awaited “duck catching” activity kicked off, and 500 ducks were thrown into the Tuojiang River from the stilted buildings. Swimmers, wearing red swimming caps and standing in the water early, quickly swam towards the ducks with excellent swimming skills, and some cooperated with others to catch the ducks that symbolize good luck. After a fierce competition, all ducks were caught, and the winners were filled with the joy of victory.
Both sides of the Tuojiang River were flooded with villagers watching the activity. They sometimes cheered for the excellent performance of the participants, and sometimes laughed at the ducks’ escape. The lively and spectacular scene attracted many tourists and citizens to take photos and share the joyful festive atmosphere.
“I’m lucky to catch two ducks today. I swam in the river for more than 10 minutes to catch the ducks, and plan to cook and share them with my friends and family tonight,” said a 22-year-old young man from Jixin Town, Fenghuang County.
“The activity was so wonderful, and the dragon boat race was very intense, which truly reproduced the Dragon Boat Festival scene in the novel ‘Border Town’. It’s worth spending the festival in Fenghuang Ancient Town,” said a tourist from Guangdong.
Tasting zongzi, watching dragon boat races and catching ducks during the Dragon Boat Festival are traditional folk customs of Fenghuang that have been handed down for a hundred years. On the day, such activities as the dragon boat final and throwing zongzi were also held, allowing tourists and local residents to immerse themselves in the colorful and authentic folk culture while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the ancient town.
