Two cultural activities in Zigui might be known to more people as local tourism bureau intends to apply to the Ministry of Culture on August 20 to include Zigui dragon-boat Festival and local boat labor song in the state's non-material cultural heritage list.

Zigui is known as the origin of the dragon-boat festival. Customs for the festival here are different from that of other places in China in that local people celebrate the festival three times.

Every household also hangs out mugwort leaves in front of the door and eats glutinous rice. Local people also organize large-scale sacrifices including dragon boat racing and poems writing.

The boat labor song in Zigui is known for its exciting and sturdy melody, different from the one at Chuanjiang river characterized by graceful melody.

Zigui boat labor melody is said to well match the fast flow of riffles, a geographic feature dominant at the part of the Three Gorges in Zigui. People concern that the ancient boat labor song might face distinction soon.

The Zigui cultural bureau has collected numerous written and video materials for the local dragon boat festival as well as for the boat labor song.  

(CNTA.com August 26, 2005)