Nightfall descended, and stars lit up above the Rouge River. In the middle of the waterway, the brightly decorated flower boats with their dimming lights gradually drew close to the shore, welcoming guests aboard to revel.
Of course, with limited berths available along the river, the most affluent commercial districts with the highest customer traffic, where affluent officials and renowned scholars gathered, were naturally reserved for those peony pavilions that had secured the highest ranks in the previous courtesan selection.
In fact, if Prince Lu had not booked the boats for a banquet in advance, the nightly flotilla of flower boats would be led by the grand vessel known as "Flower Dragon," with a line of boats trailing behind like a mighty dragon gliding down the Rouge River, departing westward from Lijiang to the viewing of the river by moonlight, turning back only in the wee hours. This was the most famous nightlife activity, known as "Flower Dragon River Touring."
