They breathe life into dragon boats
Vessels showcase Fangzhuang villagers' shipbuilding techniques
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As Dragon Boat Festival approaches, craftsmen in Fangzhuang village of Nantong township in Minhou county of Fuzhou, Fujian province, are working with their axes, saws, chisels and hammers to make dragon boats from cedar and camphor wood. With a history of more than seven centuries of traditional boat-making, the village is known as the "Village of Dragon Boats". Building a dragon boat involves a series of intricate processes, such as crafting the keel, nailing the bottom planks, sanding the structure, caulking the seams, painting patterns, and affixing a crafted dragon head. Every year, more than 200 boats are sold both domestically and globally.