Sijing Ancient Town has a long history and is known as the "Root of Shanghai". With the theme of "Longyou Ancient Town, Racing for the Millennium", on September 17, one of the activities of the 2023 Shanghai Tourism Festival and the first millennium ancient town of Songjiang Sijing Dragon Boat Invitational Race made this Jiangnan water town lively again.
The cheering group came all the way from Fujian
On the same day, 24 teams from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Fujian, Gansu, Guangxi, Shanghai and other provinces and cities, a total of more than 600 competitors, chopped waves in Sijing Tang, and interpreted the "speed and passion" on the water with 200-meter and 500-meter straight races.
A total of 24 people participated in the Sijing Ancient Town dragon boat team, all of whom were outstanding players in the dragon boat competition of the Shanghai City Amateur League in June this year. In order to prepare for the battle, the team members conducted intensive training in the early stage. The team members admitted that although the training was very hard, in the process, they gained a group of friends who were "in the same boat" and felt the fun brought by dragon boating. Although they didn't finish on the podium, they said, "We are the hosts, of course, to let the guests from afar come and have fun!" ”
Ms. Qi, a resident of Sijing, brought her grandson to the competition site, "I moved to Sijing from the city a few years ago, and the ancient town is particularly charming, and I also live in feelings. Holding a dragon boat race now can let more people know about Sijing. ”
At the scene, a group of Fujian spectators attracted attention. After the reporter learned about it, he learned that they all followed the dragon boat team from their respective hometowns to Shanghai. There are two teams in Fujian this time, namely the Fujian Minhou Sugarcane Town Dragon Boat Team and the Fujian Minhou Mindu Ancient Town Dragon Boat Team. A Ms. Liu said: "There are teams from our hometown to compete, of course we have to come to cheer on, by the way, let's see the Jiangnan water town, which really has its own advantages with our ancient town in Fujian." ”
Cultivate integrated and innovative cultural tourism brands
In mid-March this year, Sijing Ancient Town met with citizens after years of protective development and construction. Sijing Xiatang Historical and Cultural Landscape Zone, Cangcheng Historical and Cultural Landscape Area and Fucheng Historical and Cultural Landscape Area have ushered in a new life in the protection, renewal and utilization. But antique is no longer the only label of the old streets and alleys, and the ancient town is also exploring changes and thinking about how to retain tourists. "Whole-format linkage" to cultivate integrated and innovative cultural tourism brands has become a topic for management departments.
Boating on the river, crossing the river and bridge, following the river and the street, and the town because of the river - in the historical development of Sijing Ancient Town, "water" is an important element, which provides unique natural conditions for holding dragon boat races. Many years ago, Sijing once held a dragon boat race, but to form a momentum and even a brand, it needs to be supported by a cultural core. This year, the Songjiang District Cultural and Tourism Bureau joined to empower sports events, and by exploring the new mode of "dragon boat + tourism" and "dragon boat + culture", the new IP of the first millennium ancient town of Songjiang Sijing Dragon Boat Invitational was born, becoming a new brand of cultural tourism.
In recent years, the vigorous development of dragon boat sports in Shanghai has provided more possibilities for "dragon boat +". Hu Lingjie, president of Shanghai Dragon Boat Association, introduced that dragon boat sports in Shanghai have developed from suburban areas to urban areas; The participants have developed from mainly farmers to civil servants, white-collar workers, students, international friends, etc. The age structure of the participants is also getting younger. Originally a traditional folk event of the Dragon Boat Festival, the dragon boat race in Shanghai now lasts for more than half a year from February 2 to the end of November.
Shanghai is focusing on building "Shanghai Dragon Boat Sports", and the Guzhen Dragon Boat Race has become another new highlight. The first year of the race has achieved good response, which also makes Sijing Town optimistic about the prospects of this event, and will continue to enrich the content of activities in the future, so that the dragon boat race will become a display platform for the characteristic culture and development achievements of the ancient town.
Editor-in-chief: Chen Hua
Source: Author: Qin Dongying