Dragon boat race in Central China

The city of Nanyang, Henan province will be holding a traditional dragon boat race in its aquatic sports center in the Wancheng district, June 20 – 21, as a kind of fitness activity, with 12 people competing on a 200-meter or 500-meter straight course, with sponsorship from the municipal government.

The racing event has no restrictions on gender, age or work background and, as of May 25, about 150 people had registered to compete in the event. The registration deadline is June 15.

The dragon boat race uses long narrow boats with a dragon-design at the bow and stern which are propelled by a crew of people paddling in unison. It is traditionally held to celebrate the Dragon Boat, or Duanwu, Festival, held annually on May 5 on the lunar calendar to memorize Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), a great poet and politician of the Chu Kingdom of the Waring States (475 -221).