Zhejiang’s First Farmers’ Dragon Boat Invitational Held in Yinzhou
Hundreds of boats compete in Zhejiang, riding the waves toward Yinzhou’s future. On the morning of May 27, the “Our Festival • Dragon Boat Festival in Yunlong” Zhejiang Province First Farmers’ Dragon Boat Invitational was held in Yinzhou. Twelve teams from across the province gathered in Yunlong to compete against each other. A blessing video from Bulgaria, thousands of miles away, was shared, fostering another friendly interaction.
“After a year of planning, the dream has finally come true,” said Yu Difei, one of the province’s first cultural envoys, whose busy presence drew attention at the event. Yunlong Village in Yunlong Town, the event’s location, is one of the two villages where he is stationed. Over the past year, he has innovatively implemented the “Feathered Man Boat Race” dragon boat culture brand project, actively promoting the integration of dragon boat culture with modern sports events. He was deeply involved in the planning and preparation of this inaugural provincial farmers’ dragon boat race. Several of the 12 participating teams were led by cultural envoys stationed in villages, and the event also facilitated exchanges and connections among the villages hosting these envoys.
Dragon boat racing carries forward a cultural heritage spanning thousands of years. The discovery of the first-class cultural relic, the “Feathered Man Boat Race Bronze Yue,” confirms a local history of dragon boat racing dating back over 2,000 years. As a “National Advanced Unit in Mass Sports” and a “National Sports Industry Demonstration Base,” Yinzhou’s dragon boat racing is a vibrant practice of public fitness and a vivid portrayal of mass sports participation. At the event, the “Zhejiang Farmers’ Sports (Village Dragon Boat) Training Base” was officially designated, marking a new driving force for expanding the influence of dragon boat events.
Last year, the China-Ningbo (Yinzhou)-Bulgaria-Ruse City Dragon Boat Friendship Race held in Yunlong promoted exchanges between the two countries. Yinzhou has donated 10 dragon boats to Bulgaria, and a dragon boat culture training base was established in Sofia’s Pancharevo District. Additionally, dragon boat culture exhibitions and photo displays highlighting dragon boat elements were held in Sofia and Varna. At yesterday’s event, a blessing video from Bulgaria was played, adding a new highlight to the dragon boat cultural exchange between China and Bulgaria.
“The essence of dragon boat racing lies in teamwork and perseverance—united in purpose and effort to surge forward. Competing in Yunlong, I deeply felt the charm of dragon boat culture and the innovative inheritance of traditional customs in modern times,” said Ji Tinghua, a rower from the Lishui Longquan Xidian Team, which won third place in the competition.
This provincial event not only allowed participants and attending leaders to experience the allure of Yinzhou’s dragon boat culture but also showcased the rich artistic atmosphere of Yunlong Village, a provincial-level cultural village, highlighting the role of culture in empowering rural revitalization.
In recent days, the “Following Cultural Envoys to Explore the ‘Grand Series’” — China’s Historical Painting Grand Series Rural Tour Exhibition has been held at Yunlong Village’s Muyun Art Museum. This is a high-quality resource secured through the efforts of the District Party Committee’s Propaganda Department and cultural envoys. Carefully selected works related to Dragon Boat Festival culture, dragons, and dragon boats allow villagers to enjoy a high-caliber cultural feast at their doorstep.
On the same day, attending leaders and guests visited Chenhuang Village in Yunlong Town, where they explored a market featuring cultural envoy-created products, intangible cultural heritage items, agricultural product displays and sales, and a rural CEO agricultural fun showcase. The “Starlit Siming” display board in the cultural hall, showcasing the achievements of provincial, municipal, and district-level cultural envoys, also drew villagers’ attention.