Hunan's traditional dragon boat competition draws 4,200 athletes

Approximately 4,200 athletes are competing in the fierce waters of the 2025 Mayang Traditional Dragon Boat Race in Huaihua, Hunan province, which will conclude on Saturday.

The six-day race features an 800-meter upstream sprint with 60 rowers per boat. Two dragon boats race head-to-head in each heat.

At the referee's signal, the boats shoot forward like arrows, cutting through the waves. Drummers set the rhythm, helmsmen steady the course, gong players boost morale, and rowers power through in a test of teamwork and endurance. Onshore, tens of thousands of spectators cheer, their roars mingling with the splashing waves.

Dragon boat culture runs deep in Mayang's Miao ethnic heritage, where every village has a dragon boat, and every household has a rower. It's a tradition that has been upheld for centuries.

In recent years, Mayang's dragon boats have gone viral on Douyin (TikTok). In 2024, "Mayang Traditional Dragon Boat Racing" was listed on Huaihua's 8th intangible cultural heritage list.