Craftsmen in Longquan, Lishui, Zhejiang province cast swords to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival on June 10. [Photo/Tide News]

During the Dragon Boat Festival, alongside traditions like enjoying zongzi, hanging mugwort leaves, and engaging in dragon boat races, the residents of Longquan, Lishui, Zhejiang province partake in a distinctive cultural custom known as sword casting.

On June 10, amid the resonating sounds of gongs and drums, a unique sword casting event commenced, during which more than 100 participants, including master craftsmen and practitioners within the sword industry, gathered to be involved in the forging of these revered blades.

At the gathering, skilled swordsmiths showcased the intricate Longquan sword forging technique, revealing the intricate processes of iron casting, forging, and sword polishing.

The crafting of Longquan swords involves a meticulous 28-step process, with the most remarkable display of Longquan swordsmithing expertise being the blade forging stage.

Through the repetitive forging of over 30,000 layers, enduring numerous hammer strikes and refinement procedures, followed by tempering and honing, a raw sword blank is transformed from mere metal into a divine and formidable weapon.