In the leadup to the traditional Chinese Festival of Duanwu, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, parades of colorful boats and the first rowing competitions have taken place across China, setting the tone for the upcoming festivities.
Duanwu (端午节) is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The Festival symbolises the arrival of summer and is traditionally accompanied by spectacular dragon boat race.
The rowing competition is the central event. Each boat is decorated with a dragon’s head, this element has come from ancient times and still lends a special flavor to the race. Remarkably, the craftsmanship of creating these boats is passed down from generation to generation. Modern craftsmen remain true to tradition, and today the boats are still primarily handcrafted. The sizes of the boats are impressive: lengths range from 20 to 35 metres, and they can accommodate 30–60 people.
The Festival’s geography has long since expanded beyond China. Today, dragon boat races are successfully held in Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, as well as the United States, Canada, and Germany. However, the largest and most spectacular competitions still take place in China. By joining the international movement, Russia also became part of the global history of the Dragon Boat Festival, and now this tradition resonates with Russian spectators and participants. This is especially seen in Kazan. The city has firmly established itself on the Festival’s global map. Chinese Dragon Boat Races have become an integral part of the cultural calendar and a key event of the International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation”, highlighting the multinational character of the capital of Tatarstan and strengthening cultural ties between Russia and China.
As a reminder, the race will take place on 16 August, 2026, on the embankment of Lake Nizhniy Kaban as part of the “SPROUTS” Forum.
Photo by Xinhua News
Duanwu (端午节) is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The Festival symbolises the arrival of summer and is traditionally accompanied by spectacular dragon boat race.
The rowing competition is the central event. Each boat is decorated with a dragon’s head, this element has come from ancient times and still lends a special flavor to the race. Remarkably, the craftsmanship of creating these boats is passed down from generation to generation. Modern craftsmen remain true to tradition, and today the boats are still primarily handcrafted. The sizes of the boats are impressive: lengths range from 20 to 35 metres, and they can accommodate 30–60 people.
The Festival’s geography has long since expanded beyond China. Today, dragon boat races are successfully held in Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, as well as the United States, Canada, and Germany. However, the largest and most spectacular competitions still take place in China. By joining the international movement, Russia also became part of the global history of the Dragon Boat Festival, and now this tradition resonates with Russian spectators and participants. This is especially seen in Kazan. The city has firmly established itself on the Festival’s global map. Chinese Dragon Boat Races have become an integral part of the cultural calendar and a key event of the International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation”, highlighting the multinational character of the capital of Tatarstan and strengthening cultural ties between Russia and China.
As a reminder, the race will take place on 16 August, 2026, on the embankment of Lake Nizhniy Kaban as part of the “SPROUTS” Forum.
Photo by Xinhua News