On the morning of August 26, 2025, the "Dragon Boating in Hunan" traditional Chinese dragon boat race grandly opened along the Jinjiang River section in Mayang Miao Autonomous County, Hunan Province. Luo Yuelong, a Party member and deputy director of the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau, and Xiang Rulian, vice mayor of the Huaihua Municipal Government, attended the opening ceremony.  

Twenty-four teams comprising 1,920 athletes from provinces and cities such as Guangdong, Guizhou, Jiangxi, and Hunan gathered together to engage in a spectacular aquatic sports extravaganza.  

At the competition site, the banks of the Jinjiang River were packed and buzzing with excitement. As the starting gun fired, colorfully decorated dragon boats shot forward like arrows, speeding across the river. The rowers worked in unison, paddling vigorously and stirring up waves, their movements perfectly synchronized, demonstrating exceptional competitive skill and team spirit.  

Drummers beat war drums with a lively rhythm, igniting the athletes' fighting spirit and energizing the audience. Spectators on the shore, fervent and passionate, cheered vigorously for their hometown teams. Their shouts blended with the sounds of gongs, drums, and even beating pots, creating an electric atmosphere.  

The traditional dragon boat race adopted an 800-meter upstream straight race format with 60-person teams, following Mayang's traditional dragon boat customs. Reflecting local characteristics, the competition featured gongs and drums, with each boat carrying no more than 60 participants, including rowers, one helmsman, one drummer, and one gong player.  

The race imposed no restrictions on rowing posture and employed a format where two boats at a time switched lanes and rowed twice. The first stage consisted of group matches. In the morning, the 24 teams completed their initial group races, with the second round continuing in the afternoon. The top eight ranking matches are set to take place on the 28th.

(Translated by Qu Qiongxue)