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The robot dogs dressed in traditoinal costumes perform the lion dance in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

A Dragon Boat Folk Custom Festival opened with real gusto on May 29 at the Zicheng Heritage Park in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province.

Blending ancient tradition with modern innovation, the celebration brought together local customs, high-tech elements, and cultural pride.

Children in traditional outfits tied colorful blessing strings onto guests, who in return presented the kids with fragrant sachets, filling the air with festive aromas.

A big crowd-pleaser was the lion dance performed by robot dogs from manufacturer Unitree — dressed in traditoinal costumes, dancing alongside a traditional lion dance team — delighting spectators with this unique blend of old and new.

Jiaxing, renowned for the being the "Hometown of Zongzi" — the great traditional Chinese delicacy made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, boasts over 2,500 years of Dragon Boat Festival tradition and it's also the birthplace of the 7,000-year-old rice-growing culture.

This year marks the 19th consecutive Dragon Boat Folk Custom Festival hosted in the city.

The latest celebration includes five themed events and one openning ceremony, ranging from dragon boat races to traditional food markets and folk performances.

Highlights include traditional food markets featuring 50 cultural stalls, hands-on zongzi-making workshops, and intangible cultural heritage displays from across China.

Running through to June 2, the festival offers residents and visitors the chance to dive right into Jiaxing's rich Dragon Boat Festival traditions.