Museum of Dragon Boat Culture opens this mid-June
Want to have a closer look at the 200-year-old dragon boat? Want to experience the manufacturing process of dragon boat? This June, Gaomings first Cangjiang Dragon Boat Culture Museum, which is now well under construction, can make all of these wishes happen. When completed, the museum will give professional interpretation to Chinese dragon boat culture as a whole.
The project is under full-swing construction
Reportedly, the project is situated at Gaoming Cangjiang Water Sports Complex. Designed with two and a half stories, the museum covers a floor area of about 1,000 square meters and a building area of about 2,200 square meters. As planned, it is positioned as a research and education base for Dragon Boat Culture and a center for intangible cultural heritage protection. At present, the main structure has been completed, and the exterior walls setting, indoor display and exhibition are under construction.
Items displayed in the museum
The negative layer "Qunlonghui" houses dragon boats of different styles from all over China, including Guangdong, Fujian, Suzhou, Guizhou, and Hunan.
The first floor is the main exhibition area. Presented in formats such as physical objects, graphics, audio and video, boat-racing practices, dragon boat manufacturing and local customs in Gaoming find ways to visitors effortlessly. At the heart of the exhibition area places a Pontianak wooden dragon boat with a history of more than 200 years. The boat has a capacity for 71 boat riders and was transported hundreds of miles from Lile, Jiangmen to Gaoming via waterway. Visitors can watch it close this June.
There is also a Cultural and Creative Area where visitors can purchase souvenirs, while parents can "DIY" dragon boats with their kids.
The second floor is a Leisure Book Bar. Here, you are surrounded by a sea of books elaborating on dragon boat culture. You can sip a cup of tea when reading.
The rooftop is an open-air dining bar. Diners are allowed to feel the breeze, appreciate the fascinating night view along Cangjiang River and enjoys band performances.
Tools for carving dragon boats
Time-honored dragon boat "head"
Tools for carving dragon boats
At present, Cangjiang Dragon Boat Culture Museum is mobilizing related units, villages and individuals in the area to collect a large number of items of dragon boat culture, such as oars, dragon boat "heads"and "tails", flags, and drums, as well as pictures, text materials and audio videos. The Cangjiang Dragon Boat Culture Museum will put up a monument of honor to thank those who have submitted.
Author | Jersey
Revisor | Jessica, Eleanor
Photo | Hong Hai, Gaoming Converged Media Center