China
        

From Chinese media

No dragon boat races in drought-affected area

Updated: 2011-06-01 17:25

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

This year's Dragon Boat Festival will lack some of its usual festivities in Wagouzi village in Honghu city of Central China's Hubei province - they cannot hold dragon boat races as severe drought has dried up local rivers and lakes, Shanghai Evening Post reported on Wednesday.

Traditionally, the residents of Wagouzi village hold bi-annual dragon boat races, during the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Related readings:
No dragon boat races in drought-affected area Drought shrivels lakes, rivers
No dragon boat races in drought-affected area Drought-plagued C China province welcomes rain
No dragon boat races in drought-affected area 35m affected by severe drought in China
No dragon boat races in drought-affected area Drought fuels food price increases

But this year, "the lakes and ponds are almost dry. Even if it rains in the coming days, there will still not be enough for dragon boat racing," said Xia Jianguo, an experienced oarsman. "This is the first time I've seen it like this in decades."

Although rain yesterday moistened the shriveled lakes, it has not gone far to ease the drought, the severest in decades.

Over months, the drought has persisted, and Honghu Lake has shrunk in size by one third, with dead fish and shrimps left on dry land as the water has retreated. Once a lake with rippling water, Honghu is now a lake of mud.

The drought has also resulted in soaring prices for fresh-water fish as availability decreases. At a market in Honghu city, the price of finless eel hit a new high of approximately 50 yuan ($7.7) per kilogram, a rise from 30 yuan per kilogram.

There are also concerns the drought may greatly affect the ecology of Honghu Lake. "Some species may disappear after the drought," warned the head of Honghu Wetland Nature Reserve Administration, Xu Yanhong.

E-paper

Tapping into the future

Foreign companies are investing in China's water industry as many predict a growing profit margin.

Preview of the coming issue
Headhunters ride on growth
Commercial property rides wave

European Edition

Specials

China Daily marks 30th birthday

China's national English language newspaper aims for a top-notch international all-media group.

Cuisine central

London's Chinatown is helping diners appreciate full palate of Chinese food

Tying the knot

Danish couple's high-end macrame export business takes off in the mountains of Yunnan.

Memory lanes
Great expectations
A diplomat of character