Dragon Boat Races
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Long Beach has a Dragon Boat Festival every year held at Marine Park Stadium,
a facility built for the 1932 Summer Olympics. Dragon Boat racing has a long
history rooted in China over 2,000 year old. The Dragon Boat Festival
commemorates the life and death of the ancient patriot-poet, Qu Yuan, who
lived from 340-278 B.C. during the Warring States period of China. |
click photo to enlarge |
There were over 200 teams registered for the 2011 event. It stretches over a 2
day period. At first I thought it odd that all the boats looked the same
until I realized they are all using the same boats. In other words each team
does not bring their own boat but they actually use the same boats used in
the previous race. I could usually tell why a team was in front in a race.
The paddlers would all be in very good unison. |
click photo to enlarge |
Teams would do stretching and yelling to get themselves ready before their
race. Of course what would any Oriental Festival be without some form of
Martial Arts demonstration. The Dragon Boat festival was no exception
Master Tang from the Damo Academy Martial Arts performs here. |
click photo to enlarge |
click photo to enlarge |
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