The dragon boat race finally began among the excited anticipation of the crowd. The participants were full of vigor and energy, each with a red cloth wrapped around their heads and waists, bright and striking. The drum sounded, and the dragon boats shot across the calm waters of Yanming Lake like arrows off a bowstring, urged on by the loud cheers from both banks.
Some even brought out their home gongs and drums, beating them heavily to cheer on.
Even more, some mischievous youngsters hung the pre-prepared "chain firecrackers" on trees and lit them. For a while, the shouts, drumbeats, and crackling firecracker sounds mingled together, reverberating over the lake, deafening and overwhelming.
