On June 6th, the Dragon Boat Culture Experience Camp of the 2026 Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament was successfully held in Xiaozhou Village, Haizhu District, Guangzhou. Participants from the international experience camp gathered in the village and, under the guidance of local dragon boat team members, took part in key aspects of dragon boat racing. From learning drumming rhythms and paddling techniques to shouting authentic Cantonese rowing calls and sharing a traditional dragon boat meal, the international guests experienced firsthand the spirit of unity, cooperation and striving for excellence embodied in dragon boat culture.

Some international participants said the dragon boat spirit was inspiring and the culture deeply engaging. Through the experience, they became enthusiastic supporters of the sport. One participant noted that on the day of this year's Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament, he planned to attend with family and friends to experience the excitement of the event in person.

As one of the earliest birthplaces of Guangzhou's dragon boat culture, Xiaozhou Village traces its dragon boat history back to the Southern Han period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. It was once known as the "Yingzhou Flying Dragon" and has preserved the distinctive tradition of yellow flags with red borders to this day. By choosing Xiaozhou Village as the venue, the event not only enabled international guests to experience the most authentic and vibrant form of this intangible cultural heritage, but also helped spread the ancient village scenery and dragon boat stories to wider audiences through their cameras and social media platforms.

Dragon boat culture is a living embodiment of Lingnan spirit and a prominent symbol of Guangzhou's international exchanges. The Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament, which has been successfully held for 40 editions, will take place on June 20th along the Pearl River section between the North Gate Square of Sun Yat-sen University and the Guangzhou Bridge. Through the Dragon Boat Culture Experience Camp, international participants gained an immersive understanding of the charm of Lingnan dragon boat culture and became grassroots ambassadors for its promotion, helping present to the world an image of Guangzhou as a city with a rich cultural heritage and a thriving cultural scene.

2026年广州国际龙舟邀请赛·龙舟文化体验营走进小洲村

6月6日，2026年广州国际龙舟邀请赛“龙舟文化体验营”在广州市海珠区小洲村成功举办。“国际体验营”成员齐聚小洲村，在本地龙舟队师傅的指导下，亲身参与龙舟竞渡的核心环节。从学习击鼓节奏、操桨划水，到喊出地道的粤语号子，再到围坐品尝传统龙舟饭，国际友人全方位感受了龙舟文化所蕴含的“同舟共济、奋勇争先”的精神内核。

有参与体验营的国际友人表示，龙舟精神令人振奋，龙舟文化引人入胜，通过这次体验活动，已经被龙舟运动深深“种草”。今年的广州国际龙舟邀请赛当天，他将会带上家人和朋友一同现场观赛，感受更加火热的龙舟氛围。

小洲村作为广州龙舟文化最早的发源地之一，其龙舟历史可追溯至五代十国南汉时期，曾获“瀛洲飞龙”之称号，至今仍保留黄底红边旗帜的独特传统。本次活动选址于此，不仅让国际友人接触到最真实、最鲜活的龙舟非遗，也通过他们的镜头与社交平台，将小洲村的古村落风貌与龙舟故事传播至更广泛的受众。

龙舟文化是岭南精神的活态载体，也是广州对外交流的靓丽名片。已经成功举办40届的广州国际龙舟邀请赛今年将于6月20日（星期六）在中大北门广场至广州大桥之间的珠江河段举办。本次“龙舟文化体验营”让国际友人沉浸式感受岭南龙舟魅力，并成为龙舟文化的“民间使者”，向世界传递“文脉深厚、文化兴盛”的广州形象。

文 | 记者 苏荇
图 | 记者 钟振彬
视频 | 记者 古司祺、付怡、赵鹏、黎杰文 实习生 江晴川
译｜郑书悦
英文审校｜曾敏