Paddlers splash out into cultural waters

Popular sport

Dragon boat racing has emerged as a cherished tradition and popular sport in China and other countries.

As testament to its global appeal, a dragon boat race was staged as a demonstration sport before the start of the final canoe race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which due to the COVID-19 pandemic were held in 2021.

To celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, civil and government organizations hold races for participants from all walks of life. It is also tradition for those who live in neighboring villages to compete against each other in these races.

To prepare for the races this year, students at Jimei University in Xiamen, Fujian province, have practiced hard every day.

Despite having university courses in the mornings, they devoted their afternoons to paddling dragon boats under a fierce sun. They also took part in strength training in the evenings.

Lin Zhibin, 22, a junior student and captain of one of the university's dragon boat teams, said: "The sport emphasizes the power of teamwork and unity. You have to bring all your energy to the race. Training can be demanding due to the sweltering heat, but those who truly love dragon boat racing never complain."

He has formed a deep connection with the festival through the enjoyment he gets from the races.

"We have to overcome countless obstacles to achieve victory. In the blink of an eye, the outcome of a race can shift, making teamwork more important than individual ability," Lin said.

The university has formed three male teams and one female team comprising a total of about 100 members. For this year's festival, the teams have been invited to four venues across the country.

Zhang Yi, 41, a senior coach from the university, said that as China has optimized its COVID-19 strategy, more races are being staged this year, reflecting increasing demand for the sport nationwide.

"Central and local government authorities attach great importance to dragon boat races," Zhang said.

Due to his busy race schedule every year, he rarely finds time to fully immerse himself in some of the traditional festivities. However, he cherishes the opportunity to share his childhood memories of the festival with student paddlers, who are keen to exchange their own stories.

"We come from different parts of the country, so we get to learn about the commonalities and differences in how the festival is celebrated in southern and northern China," Zhang said.

For example, during the festival in provinces such as Fujian, Sichuan and Hunan, people take part in a duck grabbing activity, which is often held near the dragon boat races. Participants dash across a narrow piece of lumber coated with oil in an attempt to touch a long stick, before plunging into a pool. The person who successfully grabs a duck in the pool is awarded it as a trophy.