2008 Qintong Boat Festival kicks off

Scene of the boat festival

The 2008 Qintong Boat Festival kicked off Sunday in Jiangyan in eastern China's Jiangsu Province.

China News Service reported that over 500 boats and 10,000 players from nearby villages and towns joined together at the Qin lake to enjoy the world's largest "temple fair on water."

Qintong Boat Festival is a traditional festival held on the Tomb-sweeping Day, or the Qingming Festival (around April 4-6), every year.

Besides boat racing, theatrical performances, dragon and lion dances, and other folk dances are also staged on board the boats.

Players prepare for boat racing during the 2008 Qintong Boat Festival on Sunday, April 6, 2008.

Boats race with each other during the 2008 Qintong Boat Festival on Sunday, April 6, 2008.