Zheng Xianglong: Inheritor of dragon boat craft

By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio

Zheng Xianglong, a 68-year-old dragon boat instructor from Zigui County, has a deep passion for dragon boats. Not only does he actively participate in rowing dragon boats, but he also dedicates his time to creating intricate dragon boat models.

With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Zheng is busy making dragon boat models. He has been invited to participate in the Dragon Boat Festival cultural activities in Zigui, Yichang, which is the hometown of Qu Yuan.

"I will take the dragon boat model to the exhibition," Zheng said, "to let more people know about the dragon boat culture and the cultural legacy of the poet Qu Yuan."

Zheng's father is also a dragon boat instructor, and Zheng himself has been rowing for decades, starting at the age of 18. Because of his exceptional skills as a helmsman, drummer, and paddler, he earned the nickname "gold coach."

In 1992, Zheng led a dragon boat team across the Xiling Gorge from Guizhou town. In 2004, he participated in the coaching training class organized by the State General Administration of Sport and was selected as the first national coach of the Dragon Boat team.

Subsequently, Zheng established the Guizhou Town Dragon Boat Association, leading the team to participate in competitions in Hong Kong, Macao, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other locations.

In 2007, Zheng became passionate about crafting dragon boat models. In 2013, his handcrafted wooden dragon boat won first prize in the China Dragon Boat Model Exhibition Competition, which featured 22 boats. It is now on permanent display at the Dragon Boat Museum headquarters of the Asian Dragon Boat Federation.

In his workshop, Zheng has neatly arranged dragon boat models of different sizes and made from various types of wood. He remarked, "These eight dragon boats are all models made according to Zigui's traditional dragon boats, and I will send them to customers after they are completed."

Making a dragon boat model involves over 10 steps, such as selecting materials, demoulding, polishing, painting, and scaling. The most challenging part of creating a dragon boat model is carving the dragon head, which requires both skill and spirit. "It is a slow and meticulous process," he explains. It can take anywhere from four days to half a month.

After 17 years, Zheng's craftsmanship as the inheritor of the traditional dragon boat has become even more refined. "Compared with the first dragon boat we built, the dragon mouth is shorter and the streamlined hull is more natural and energetic," he said.

Zheng's son, Zheng Da, has also learned his techniques. Like his father, he is skilled in drumming, trailing, and paddling, and is also a popular dragon boat team coach in Zigui.