Heavy rain that hit Shekou on the morning of June 13 didn’t dampen the festive spirit along the Houhai Central River, where the sixth Houhai Central River Fun Dragon Boat Race took place near the Houhai BabyCity Mall.

Teams are ready to compete in the sixth Houhai Central River Fun Dragon Boat Race on June 13. Photos provided to Shenzhen Daily

The event kicked off at 8:30 a.m. with a traditional dragon boat eye-dotting ritual. Following the ceremony, approximately 700 paddlers across 48 teams began competing in 12-person standard dragon boats, fueled by rhythmic drumbeats and thunderous cheers from the crowd.

“I’m so excited to take part,” said Timur Norov, a Russian member of this year’s Shekou Global Trotters team. Norov, who first competed in the Shekou race in 2023, expressed his delight at returning. “I remember being exhausted after my first race. This time I feel more confident because we had three training sessions.”

Paddlers pose for a group photo.

The Global Trotters, a team composed of expatriate residents living in Shekou, competed in the 400-meter straight-line return race. Under the guidance of Philippines-born coach Gerald Jek Manuel, the team advanced to the second round but was narrowly eliminated, missing the next stage by just two seconds and finishing in seventh place.

“I think we were paddling at a good pace. We had great spirit, and it was nice that the spectators were supporting us,” said Marina, a team member, adding that they were delighted to have the dragon boat race in Shekou.

The Hong Kong Shekou Association team ultimately took first place in the category with a time of 4:11.288.

People have fun at a public carnival on Houhai Central River.

A highlight of this year’s event was the debut of the teenage division, featuring eight teams from six local primary and middle schools competing in 200-meter straight-line sprints. This addition is a flagship outcome of the “Dragon Boat in Schools” pilot program in Nanshan District. Shekou School dominated the category, sweeping both the primary and middle school titles.

Beyond the competitive races, the Houhai Central River Water Sports Center hosted a public carnival, where residents enjoyed paddleboarding and kayaking. A “Duck Rescue” game on the water allowed participants to collect floating rubber ducks in exchange for cultural and creative gifts. Along the riverbanks, a community sports fair featured interactive booths where families collected stamps by completing challenges related to Nanshan landmarks and dragon boat trivia, blending athletic competition with local tradition.

A child in action during the "Duck Rescue" game on Houhai Central River.