Dragon boat industry in Hunan thrives

The dragon boat industry in Miluo, Hunan province, is boosting local economic development and helping to spread Chinese tradition.

With the Dragon Boat Festival around the corner — falling on June 3 this year — craftsmen and enterprises are busy making boats. Racing dragon boats and eating rice dumplings are two traditions of the festival.

The local government said there are nearly 20 companies producing dragon boats in the city, with an annual production of 4,000 pieces and total sales of 160 million yuan ($23.9 million).

The products are sold in the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu and Fujian, as well as abroad — in Malaysia, the United States, Myanmar and South Korea.