West Lake: Boat-girls Make Their Return

Twenty beautiful boat-girls have been awarded oars from the management committee of West Lake scenic area. The ceremony was held on West Lake's Mao Jiabu wharf July 2nd.

Photo Source: Xinhua

As the boat-girls sang, a row of little wooden boats floated on the ripples of China's most famous West Lake. Some ornaments characteristic of the nation were hung around the small vessels, as the seats and covers of the boats were wrapped up with manually printed cloth. A boat-girl named Chen Meifang told a journalist that the boat-girls' costumes, with their dominant blue and green tones, originate from the dress of Song Sao, the most famous boat-girl in history.

The boat-girl is indispensable to the essence of West Lake culture. Historically, West Lake boat-girls used to be praised for their gentle service and adept guiding skills. But as time went by, they withdrew from their traditional roles in the scenic area, for a long time being replaced by boatmen from the outside.

According to Meng Dongsheng, Chairman of the Board and General Manager of the West Lake Pleasure Boat Company, 135 people from different parts of China applied for employment as boat-girls when the company's advertisement was published in the newspaper May 11th. After three rounds of tests, in swimming, rowing and other talents, twenty boat-girls were finally selected. The oldest of those selected is thirty-six, while the youngest is only twenty.

Meng added that the company engaged meteorologists to teach the boat-girls weather knowledge; etiquette experts to teach them to dress appropriately; and traditional opera experts to teach them the Tea-picking Dancing Song as well as Shaoxing and Hangzhou styles of opera. Apart from these special skills, boat-girl training also included occupational ethics, security and rescue, and swimming and guiding services, among others. The boat-girls service area will be located at Zhongshan Park; Hangfan Wharf; Su Di, Huagang Wharf; Majia Pool; and Yang Gongdi scenic area. (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)