摘要：Shipai Village in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, holds its dragon boat "Caiqing" ritual at Shipai Xinyong River.

Shipai Village in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, holds its dragon boat "Caiqing" ritual at Shipai Xinyong River.

On the afternoon of May 25th, Shipai Village in Guangzhou's Tianhe District held its traditional dragon boat "Caiqing" (literally meaning "picking the green") ritual at Shipai Xinyong River. Colorful flags fluttered in the breeze as crowds gathered along the canal. Among the paddlers were families spanning three generations, all taking part with visible joy and pride.

Villagers gather along both banks of the Shipai Xinyong River to celebrate the event.

"Caiqing," or "picking the green," is a vital ceremony marking the official "awakening" of the dragon boats each year. Villagers gathered along both banks of Shipai Xinyong River to adorn the seven vessels with elaborate decoration, mounting drums, attaching red silk balls to the dragon-like heads and tails, and fixing them firmly onto the hulls. Elders of the village placed bundles of rice seedlings at the head and tail of each boat, offering prayers for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest.

Flag bearers wave vigorously at the bow and stern as rowers paddle to the rhythm of the drums.

As the drums began to beat, the flag bearers at the bow and stern waved their flags vigorously, jumping rhythmically with the sound. The rowers followed the tempo, paddling in unison as the boats made three ceremonial passes along the canal, full of vigor and spirit.

Everyone enjoys the moment as generations unite in a shared tradition.

Among the onlookers and participants were fathers rowing alongside sons, grandfathers with grandsons, and entire families with three generations rowing together in the same boat. As the younger generation took hold of the paddles, they not only propelled the boat forward but also carried on the enduring Shipai spirit of unity and perseverance.

Source:Lingnan on the Cloud

图集｜广州石牌龙船采青，三代同舟共传承

5月25日下午，广州市天河区石牌村在石牌新涌举行龙船采青活动，现场彩旗飘扬，人头攒动，三代同舟人人尽兴。

“采青”是每年龙舟活动中的重要一环，意味着龙舟正式苏醒。石牌新涌两岸，村民群众聚集于此，为停靠在岸边的7条龙船精心装饰，架好锣鼓，将扎着红绸球的龙头、龙尾安装至船身。随后，村中长辈将禾苗安放在龙船头、龙船尾，祈求风调雨顺、五谷丰登。

锣鼓声响起，站在船头船尾的旗手一边用力挥旗，一边上下跳动，桡手们跟着鼓点节奏划桨，精神抖擞地在石牌新涌来回划过三遍。

人群中，不乏父带子、爷带孙的，更有家庭三代同堂齐齐来扒龙船的，年轻一代接过船桡，伴随着龙舟前进的，还有拼搏奋进的石牌精神。

文、图｜记者 徐振天

翻译｜杨钧雅

英文审校｜肖凯欣

来源：羊城派