The 4th Grand Canal Jintan Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament was held on Qianzi Lake in Changzhou on June 14, drawing tens of thousands of spectators and igniting the city with excitement.
As the starting gun fired, the lake resounded with drumbeats and the splash of paddles, while cheers and shouts rose from the shore. The competition featured 22-person mixed crew 500-meter races, divided into heats, repechages, semifinals, and finals. Twenty-four teams, bringing together paddlers from across the district and beyond, competed for glory, with 673 water sports enthusiasts representing various sectors, enterprises, and associations. After a day of fierce racing, the Shanshui Xuebu Dragon Boat Team clinched the championship, with Hongtu Technology Dragon Boat Team taking second place and Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce Dragon Boat Team finishing third.
Alongside the races, the lakeside offered a rich cultural experience. During the event, Jintan district created a diverse program that blended competition, entertainment, and interactive activities. Beyond the thrilling races, audiences were treated to dazzling performances including jet-powered surfboards and flyboarding shows. Of particular note was the Dragon Boat Festival market, which showcased local specialties such as Changdang Lake boat banquets, Changdang Lake shrimp roe, Jintan sealed jar wine, fresh produce, and seasonal fruits. Traditional craft zones allowed visitors to try their hand at making zongzi (rice dumplings), weaving colorful festival bracelets, and sewing sachets, giving visitors an immersive experience of Dragon Boat Festival traditions.
Dragon boat racing, a millennia-old tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival, embodies the spirit of unity, teamwork, perseverance, and enterprise. Since the inaugural event in 2023, the Jintan Dragon Boat Invitational has been held for four consecutive years, with both quality and scale growing steadily. The number of participating teams has expanded from 16 to 24 this year, and its influence has risen year by year. The tournament has been covered by national media outlets including China Central Television and Xinhua News Agency for three straight years, while live streams on the "See Jintan" mobile platform have garnered over 1.05 million cumulative views. It has become one of Jintan's most popular and brand-defining sporting events.
In recent years, Jintan has been leveraging sports to boost urban development and integrating culture, tourism, and sports through these events. The district has rolled out a series of nationwide fitness initiatives, developed the Qianzi Lake Water Sports Park and Changdang Lake Leisure Sports Park, and continued to host premium events such as dragon boat races, marathons, cross-country races, and air volleyball tournaments. Staying true to its vision of becoming a "modern smart manufacturing hub and vibrant eco-friendly urban area," Jintan is leveraging sports to attract talent and investment. The district aims to enrich its cultural appeal, unlock commercial potential, energize its sports sector, and sharpen its competitive edge—all while enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
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