Over 4,000 athletes paddled through choppy waters amid cheers from more than 100,000 spectators at Guangzhou’s International Dragon Boat Invitation Competition (广州国际龙舟邀请赛) along the Pearl River on June 1, adding more excitement to the traditional celebration.

A total of 116 teams competed in the 22-person, 600-meter straight-course speed races across four categories: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s International, and University divisions.

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In addition to teams representing local Guangzhou communities, the competition featured seven foreign squads from countries including Russia and Kazakhstan, 12 teams from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, seven from Guangdong cities such as Foshan and Huizhou, and eight delegations from Guangzhou-based consulates or corporations.

As one of Guangdong’s largest dragon boat events, this competition has gained popularity for its unique Cantonese cultural elements. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, this year’s event was held during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday period for the first time.

More than 650 themed cultural and tourism activities were organized over the weekend as part of the “Visit Guangzhou, Watch Dragon Boats” campaign, aiming to attract tourists and stimulate local consumption.

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