On June 20th, the 2026 Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament officially kicked off, with 105 dragon boat teams from 20 countries and regions participating. What is it about this event that captivates both local and visiting teams?

For the local hosts, this is an expression of their cultural confidence. Liang Jiayao, a member of the Guangzhou Tianhe Liede Women's Dragon Boat Team, said that during the traditional "Zhaojing" gatherings of Dragon Boat Festival in Liede Village, when dragon boat teams from different villages visit one another like relatives, people set off firecrackers, eat festive dragon boat pastries, and have a special dragon boat feast. For them, dragon boat racing is no longer just a competition; it is a way of life that brings people together.

This year's tournament features 7 teams from cities such as Chongqing, Jilin, and Longyan, 11 teams from Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, 7 teams from foreign consulates and business associations in Guangzhou, and 3 international teams. Among them is the Kazakhstani Knights Dragon Boat Team from landlocked Kazakhstan. Their team leader fell in love with dragon boat racing while studying in China. After returning home, he spent over 60,000 yuan to purchase two standard dragon boats from China and has been training diligently on the small rivers of Almaty ever since. This competition serves as a window for them to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

For some long-time participants, the dragon boat invitational has become more of an annual reunion to witness the city's growth. Hong Xuting, leader of the Hong Kong Rhino Dragon Boat Team, said they've watched skyscrapers rise along the Pearl River and have been heartened to see the water grow clearer each year. The event has always been impeccably organized, and the crowds along the banks remain as passionate as ever—that's why they keep coming back year after year.

广州国际龙舟邀请赛何以吸引“本地龙”“外江龙”？

6月20日，2026年广州国际龙舟邀请赛正式开桨，来自20个国家和地区的105支龙舟队伍参与其中。究竟是何种魅力，让“本地龙”与“外江龙”都沉醉其中？

对于本地东道主来说，这是一种文化自信。广州天河猎德女子龙舟队队员梁嘉瑶表示，猎德村端午“招景”时，各村龙舟互访探亲，大家放鞭炮，吃龙船饼、龙船饭，龙舟早已不只是一项竞技，更是一种把人联结在一起的生活方式。

本届赛事共有7支来自重庆、吉林、龙岩等兄弟城市队伍，11支来自香港、澳门特别行政区的队伍，7支驻穗领馆及商协会队伍和3支国外队伍报名参加。其中更有身处内陆的哈萨克斯坦骑士龙舟队，其领队在中国留学时爱上龙舟，回国后花费6万多元从中国购置两条标准龙舟，在阿拉木图的小河里坚持训练。这场比赛成为了他们深入了解中国文化的窗口。

而对于一些参赛已久的队伍，龙舟邀请赛是一种见证城市“生长”的约定。中国香港犀牛龙舟队领队洪旭停表示，他们亲眼看着珠江两岸高楼一幢幢拔地而起，也欣慰于珠江水质的日益清澈。赛事组织始终一流，两岸观众的热情不变，这是他们年复一年持续参赛的理由。

文、图 ｜羊城晚报记者 孙牧 梁怿韬 范晗越
译｜黄健新
英文审校｜曾敏