A dragon boat...
Is a human-powered watercraft. They were traditionally made in the
Pearl River Delta region of China's southern Guangdong Province out
of teak wood (mostly imported from Pontianak, Indonesia) to various
designs and sizes. In other parts of China, different kinds of wood are
used to build these traditional watercraft. It is one of a family of
traditional paddled long boats found throughout Asia, Africa, the
Pacific islands and also Puerto Rico. Currently, boats are being made
for competitive purposes out of carbon fiber and other lightweight
materials.
Dragon boats are the basis of the team paddling sport of dragon
boat racing, a watersport which has its roots in an ancient folk ritual of
contending villagers, which has been held for over 2000 years
throughout southern China. While competition has taken place
annually for more than 20 centuries as part of religious ceremonies and
folk customs, dragon boat racing has emerged in modern times as an
international sport, beginning in Hong Kong in 1976. But the history
of dragon boats in competition reaches as far back as the same era as
the original games of Olympia in ancient Greece. Both dragon boat
racing and the ancient Olympiad included aspects of religious
observances and community celebrations along with competition.
For competition events, dragon boats are generally rigged with
decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails. At other times (such as
during training), decorative regalia is usually removed, although the
drum often remains aboard for drummers to practice.
Dragon boat races were traditionally held as part of the annual
Duanwu Festival or Duen Ng observance in China. Not understanding
the significance of Duanwu, 19th-century European observers of the
racing ritual referred to the spectacle as a "dragon boat festival". This is
the term that has become known in the West.