Foreign Dragon Boat Teams Visit Sanfang Qixiang: “Fuzhou is a Wonderful City”
Dragon Boat-themed Fair at the Dragon Boat-themed Park. Photo by Reporter Chen Nuan
On May 30, foreign athletes from Russia, Germany, and Kazakhstan who were in Fuzhou to participate in the 2025 Fuzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational and Belt and Road Youth International Dragon Boat Invitational visited Sanfang Qixiang, where they experienced the city’s unique cultural charm and immersed themselves in the rich heritage of Fujian culture. “Fuzhou is a wonderful city”, said “Great Wall”, a member of the Russian Wind Boat Dragon Boat Team.
The Dragon Boat Fair Drew Attention of Local Residents. Photo by Reporter Chen Nuan.
The international guests toured the historic architecture steeped in traditional charm while sipping refreshing jasmine tea and enjoying a leisurely and pleasant atmosphere beyond the racecourse. Inna, a member of the Russian Wind Boat Dragon Boat Team, has lived and worked in Fuzhou for over a year. “Fuzhou is a beautiful garden city with plenty of delicious food and fun things to do. My favorites are fish balls and pork wontons”, she said. This is her first time competing in a dragon boat race, and both she and her teammates are thrilled. They trained diligently before the event and developed strong team coordination. She said frankly the dragon boat racing atmosphere in Fuzhou was vibrant, where spectators enthusiastically cheered and applauded during the race.
Members of the Russian Wind Boat Dragon Boat Team Interact with Visitors in Front of the “Tree of Love” in Sanfang Qixiang. Photo by Reporter Lin Shuangwei
The opportunity to compete in a dragon boat race alongside teams from various countries left a deep impression on Stefan Schreiner from Germany. “This is my first time in Fuzhou, and I’m very happy to be here. Everyone cherishes this opportunity. We hope to demonstrate our best performance, make friends through the event, and promote friendship”, he said. He also mentioned that some cities in Germany host annual dragon boat races that attract participation from Chinese communities and dragon boat teams, which are very popular locally. Through this event, he hopes to fully experience the thrill of dragon boating, better understand Fuzhou, and gain a deeper appreciation for Chinese dragon boat culture.
Mu Ha, a member of the Kazakhstan Qibanban Dragon Boat Team, only recently began practicing the sport but quickly fell in love with it. “Paddling a dragon boat not only requires physical strength but also strategic teamwork to maximize efficiency. When the boat moves forward in unison, you can feel the power of team spirit and shared rhythm. The feeling of cutting through the waves together is incredible”, he said. This dragon boat event gave him a chance to connect with people from other countries. Through the competition, he made new friends and formed deep bonds of friendship. (Lai Zhichang, Reporter of Fuzhou Daily)