Dragon boats, small canoe-like vessels carved into the shape of a dragon, represent the meaning of the Dragon Boat Festival in China. Dragon boat contests are a form of folk entertainment that brings the citizens together during the festival. The oldest dragon boat can be traced back to Han Dynasty (BC 206-AD 220) in China.

Eighteen teams from Hong Kong, Macao, Dongguan, Guangzhou and Nan’ao contested for the honor of winning the 2019 Dapeng New District Nan’ao Dragon Boat Invitational Contest in Moon Bay, Dapeng New District on June 6.

After two rounds (each 500 meters), Team Dongyu from the local Nan’ao community won first place in the race with a time of four minutes and one second, which marks the first time a local team has won in the 19-year history of the dragon boat contest in Nan’ao.

Since the 1960s, rowing dragon boats during the festival has been popular in Nan’ao. Citizens use dragon boats to not only compete with each other but also to put local food like litchis into the ocean to wish for a peaceful harvesting year.

Since dragon boat culture has grown more and more popular in Nan’ao, the local government has started holding a dragon boat contest every year, inviting many teams to participate. It is a great way of spreading culture and positivity, and also a great way to promote local tourism in Nan’ao.