Across China, 'village boat' races were held for the Dragon Boat Festival, Huanqiu reported with photos. On the canals of old walled towns, residents rowed in unison and enjoyed the tradition.

Dragon boat racing is a signature custom of the festival—a cooperative contest in which many row in unison to a fast drumbeat. It is also a community event where villages form teams and compete for pride.

Lately, traditional customs are clearly expanding into local tourism and cultural content. Festivals invigorate local economies and carry an educational effect of passing tradition between generations.

This paper introduces a custom celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide. Diaspora communities in Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia each keep the festival in their own way—a holiday that becomes a shared memory binding a scattered people.