Deeply rooted in a millennium of dragon boat lore, this year's Hangzhou Xixi Dragon Boat Cultural Festival seamlessly blends exhilarating races with water performances and cultural activities. 

Opening day on Friday featured a series of distinctive events, starting with seven teams battling it out on a 700-meter course. Next came the highly anticipated Xixi International Dragon Boat Race, where ten elite teams took to the water, bringing together Chinese athletes and international enthusiasts from 20 countries, including Russia, the US, Nigeria, the UK, and Malaysia. The 1,500-meter racecourse, which winds through the Xixi Wetland and is run to international standards, introduced a unique "P-shaped" hairpin turn, raising the stakes while delighting the senses.

Once again, the festival proves that the course carries more than dragon boats; it carries age-old traditions kept alive by the people who pass them on across generations, cultures and continents.  

(All pictures are courtesy of China International Cartoon and Animation Festival.)