National ICH: Dragon Boat Festival custom in Shishi

The Dragon Boat Festival custom in Shishi, Fujian province, also known as the Fujian-Taiwan ferry ritual, is a vibrant water-based celebration held by people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait in Hanjiang town, Shishi city, Fujian province.

Hanjiang, located in northern Shishi city, historically served as a crucial port along the southeastern coast. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the town was a pivotal trading hub for exchanges with Taiwan. Records mention a ferry between Hanjiang town and Lugang town in Taiwan during the 18th century.

On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, people from both sides of the Strait gather in Hanjiang to take part in rituals such as the Ong Chun Burning Ceremony and traditional customs such as lotus picking, dragon boat races, and duck-catching.

This custom symbolizes a historical reenactment of the Qing Dynasty ferry between Hanjiang and Lugang, playing a significant role in cultural exchanges across the Strait.