The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in the Queens borough of New York on Aug 13. The annual event drew hundreds of participants, paddling aboard painted boats. [Photo by Andres Kudacki / Associated Press]

Well-kept tradition, much-loved sport

In Chinese legend, the dragon boat culture emerged some 2,500 years ago, to mark Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese patriotic poet, after he drowned himself in the Miluo River. To prevent fish and water dragons from eating his body, the locals beat their drums and splashed their paddles. This was the beginning of dragon boat racing.

Qu might never have imagined that his death would inspire a much-loved sport, not only in China, but also all across the world.

The tradition is well-kept in China, where dragon boat races, or the Dragon Boat Festival, are held in many cities on the fifth day of the fifth month of lunar calendar. Rules are also formulated to make the sport into regulated events.

In 1991, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York City took a step future by bringing it to New York's Hudson River, trying to promote the image of Hong Kong.

It was supposed to be a one-year event, but the organizers decided to bring it back due to its popularity, Henry Wan, chairman of New York's Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival host committee, told Xinhua.

"It is now one of the largest summer festivals in New York City," he added.

Last weekend marked the 27th year of the event, and organizers reported a record number of participants: over 2,500 racers from some 200 well-trained teams paddled across the New York's Meadow Lake, which have turned this popular boating sport into a festive multicultural gathering, backed by martial arts performances, lion dancing, and so on.

Not just in New York. This water sport is now among the fastest growing team water sports in the world. Competitions are held in many countries in Asia, North America, and Europe as well.