Yichang
　　 THe city of Yichang can attest that not all exciting sports are modern. each year, it hosts the China dragon Boat Rally, which draws teams from all over the country to compete in traditional dragon boat races. Foreign rowers are also involved in the competition. The rally is part of the dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it is slated for June.
　　dragon boats are around 20 meters long and?1 meter wide. A boat’s team consists of a drummer, a gong beater, a coxswain and oarsmen. The oarsmen row and keep their strokes in time with the rhythm of the drum and gong. With rowers straining at their paddles, these 20-meter-long crafts can slice through the water at incredible speeds.
　　What many may not know is that the festival and dragon boat racing arose from a legend. In the Warring States Period (476-221 B.C.), patriot official and poet Qu Yuan committed suicide in Yichang (he drowned in the Miluo River, which runs through the city’s Zigui County) after discovering that the kingdom he served was to be conquered. Yichang residents raced out onto the water with their boats in an attempt to rescue him. The dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in part to commemorate the anniversary of his death.
　　Yichang’s history can be traced back 4,000 years. Many famous battles took place here during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), and remnants of these clashes can still be found in the area. Located in Hubei, a province in the middle of China where the central and upper parts of the Yangtze River divide, Yichang is a transportation hub since ancient times.
　　With abundant water resources, Yichang houses the largest hydroelectric base in the world: the Three Gorges dam Project. one of the great wonders of modern human history, the Three Gorges dam has also become an international tourism hot spot. every year, millions of visitors gather here to see this great man-made project firsthand.
　　Taking a cruise is the most popular way for tourists to view the area’s magnificent scenery. There are many luxury cruise lines sailing between Yichang and Chongqing on the Yangtze, and journeys last three nights downstream and four nights upstream. on board, passengers can enjoy the incredible vistas on either side of their vessel. These?luxury ships are outfitted with the best facilities, ensuring a cozy trip for those aboard.
　　Yichang is famous for its local products, including oranges, persimmons, Chinese gooseberries and other fruits. It is also well known among tea connoisseurs due to the very fine green and flower teas produced in the city. Yichang’s regional cuisine is similar to that?of?Chongqing, and prickly ash, hot pepper and chili powder play an important role in the local diet.