Society

Dragon Boat Carnival held in Hong Kong

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-17 17:42

HONG KONG - The second Dragon Boat Carnival kicked off in Hong Kong on Friday, featuring fierce international dragon boat race and jolly beer garden entertainment.

The three-day event gathered 194 dragon boat teams, of which 32 were from Germany, Canada, Australia and other countries and territories, competing for 17 different championships.

To add more fun to the carnival, a "bathtub race" would also be held on Sunday, in which competitors, sitting in a real bathtub, were required to finish the 100-meter race.

Apart from activities in water, visitors could also enjoy themselves at beer garden near the Victoria Harbor, drinking cool beer and watching performances provided by pop singers and dancers.

A Guinness World Record-breaking dragon boat has been exhibited during the carnival. The 30-meter long fiberglass boat, boasted the world's longest dragon boat, has become a sensation in the carnival, with visitors swarming to take photos of it.

The carnival, first held in 2010, was organized by the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association together with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).

"We hope this mega summer event for both visitors and local residents will not only increase the appeal of Hong Kong during the summer season, but also further enhance the publicity of the city," said James Tien, chairman of the HKTB, earlier to the media.