The clergy draws dragon eyes. [Photo by Deng Hua /Xinhua]

Team members install a dragon head. [Photo by Deng Hua /Xinhua]

The Liuzhou Dragon Boat Association held a launching ceremony for six dragon boats on Qinshui Wharf on Aug 25 to promote the 2014 Liuzhou International Dragon Boat Race Final on Sept 27.

The six dragon boats were sent to the shore in the afternoon by the team members after drawing on dragon eyes and putting on heads. Liuzhou residents were excited to see the beautiful dragon boats and took pictures with them.

The Liuzhou team ranked 15th in the Chinese Professional Dragon Boat Tournament for the first time among 16 teams. All the participants were professional teams except Liuzhou. They have made huge progress since then and ranked eighth in the second race. It is a social convention for dragon boat teams to choose an auspicious date to hold the launching ceremony.

The launching ceremony marked the beginning of the Liuzhou team’s preparation for the 2014 Liuzhou International Dragon Boat Race.