Welcome to learn about dragon boat racing! Dragon boat racing is a very exciting water sport that comes from ancient China. In Guangzhou, this sport is especially popular and loved by many people. Let's discover what makes dragon boat racing so special!
Let me tell you the story behind dragon boat racing! Long, long ago in ancient China, there lived a wise poet named Qu Yuan. He loved his country very much. When Qu Yuan died in the river, the people were very sad. They quickly got into their boats and raced on the water to try to save him. They also threw rice dumplings into the river. This is why we have dragon boat racing during the Dragon Boat Festival!
Now let's see how dragon boat racing works! First, the team sits in the long dragon boat. At the front of the boat, there is a drummer who beats a big drum. The drummer's job is very important - they beat the rhythm so everyone knows when to paddle. When the drummer beats the drum, all the paddlers move their paddles together at the same time. This teamwork makes the boat move very fast through the water!
Teamwork is the most important part of dragon boat racing! Look at these two boats racing. The red boat has paddlers who work together perfectly - they all paddle at exactly the same time. The blue boat's paddlers are not working together as well. See how the red boat moves faster? When everyone works as one big team, amazing things happen! This is why dragon boat racing teaches us that teamwork makes us stronger!
Guangzhou is a very special city for dragon boat racing! It has many beautiful rivers, especially the Pearl River. Because Guangzhou has such a long history with water and boats, dragon boat racing is extra popular here during festivals. People come from all over to watch the exciting races! Just like the dragon boat teams, we can learn to work together in our classroom and in our lives. When we help each other and work as a team, we can do amazing things! Remember, teamwork makes the dream work!