The Pearl River in South China’s Guangzhou erupted in a vibrant display of international camaraderie and Chinese tradition on Sunday (June 1st) as the 2025 Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament kicked off.

Team members cheer on each other before setting out for the race.

Drawing thousands of competitors and spectators from across the globe, the event transformed the river into a dynamic celebration where cultures converged through a shared passion for dragon boating.

Teams rally for morning heats.

Marking its 40th anniversary this year, the regatta attracted 116 dragon boats, which carried over 4,000 athletes slicing through the waters between Sun Yat-sen University North Gate Square and Guangzhou Bridge throughout the day.

Teams getting ready for morning heats.

Alongside local university and district teams, dragon boat racers included:  

- 12 squads from Hong Kong and Macao SARs 

- 7 international teams (Russia, USA, Canada, Malaysia, Kazakhstan)  

- 8 crews representing foreign consulates and business associations in Guangzhou 

The core competition featured 22-crew teams battling in 600-meter sprints across four divisions: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s International, and University. Complementing the races were dragon boat performances infused with Lingnan (Southern China) characteristics and a dragon boat parade.

The Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament is one of the most anticipated events of this year's dragon boat season in Guangdong. Throughout the year, dragon boat racing, also an intangible cultural heritage item in Guangdong that embodies the region's Lingnan culture, has evolved from a regional tradition to a global meeting point on the water.

Competitors enter the venue successively.

David Butler, general manager of the Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Team, highlighted the sport's international surge, observing that while dragon boat culture is fundamental to China, its power to unite is truly global. Particularly in his hometown in the U.K., he has seen new teams popping up in a persistent pursuit of victory and the dragon boat spirit.

“People get into it. Like me, I got into it for exercise at first, but gradually you find out more and more about the dragon boat,” he said. Now, seeing teams emerge on every continent training fiercely to win, David believes this proves the ancient tradition is building modern bridges—connecting us all through shared effort and passion.

Biggy Mashenu, one of the leaders of the ZJNU Tenglong Yufeng International Dragon Boat Team, said dragon boat racing provides colorful experiences, exposing him to new people and things, and the team spirit and collaboration the sport elicits fascinate him greatly.

Xie Weiying from the Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Dragon Boat United expressed surprise at dragon boat’s transcendence of its regional boundaries.

"This regatta is a powerful symbol of dragon boat's global reach," the participant observed, referencing the diverse international field.

"Beyond the competition, seeing foreigners and locals here, deeply engaged, actively learning, and committed to sustaining this Chinese tradition is profoundly meaningful."

“It validates my childhood lesson that Guangzhou is ‘an international city’. Right here, right now, we're living that truth—welcoming the world not just to visit, but to truly join in and carry forward our cultural legacy," Xie said.

By the end of the race, regarding the performance of the international teams, the Kazakhstan Knights Dragon Boat Team won gold and bronze in the Men’s International and Women’s Open respectively. A team from Malaysia won silver in the Women’s Open.

Reporter | Huang Xinyi

Photo | Ou Nanying

Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He