On May 31, the opening ceremony and finals of the 2025 Fuzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational and the “Belt and Road” Youth Dragon Boat International Invitational were held at the Puxia River Dragon Boat Theme Park in Cangshan District, Fuzhou. Fujian Governor Zhao Long and Vice Governors Lin Ruiliang and Jiang Erxiong attended the event to observe the races. Guo Ningning, Deputy Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and Party Secretary of Fuzhou, officially announced the opening. After more than two hours of fierce competition, teams from Hong Kong, Iran, Fuzhou University, Wenzhou University, and various regions of Fuzhou won championships in their respective categories, showcasing a strong spirit of perseverance, teamwork, and unity.
This year marked the first time that the Fuzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational was held jointly with the “Belt and Road” Youth Dragon Boat Race, attracting 71 teams from 30 countries and regions. The competition featured six categories: international and Hong Kong–Macao–Taiwan, “Belt and Road” youth teams, university teams, elite teams, city teams, and local Fuzhou teams. Guided by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the China Dragon Boat Association, the event was co-hosted by the Fujian Provincial Sports Bureau, the Fujian Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the Fuzhou Municipal Government. With a history of over 2,000 years, dragon boat racing has evolved into an international sporting event. In recent years, Fujian has actively promoted cross-cultural exchange through such races, fostering friendship and cooperation between countries and regions. Alongside the competition, cultural and tourism activities such as the “Fuzhou Dragon Boat Market,” themed travel experiences, and dragon boat culture exhibitions enhanced the city’s cultural appeal.