On October 1, the first day of the National Day holiday, Jiujiang Town in Nanhai, Foshan—China's first "Famous Dragon Boat Town"—welcomed huge crowds for the annual Golden Dragon Gala. The day-into-night festivities included a Golden Dragon parade, traditional dragon boat races, the opening of a Dragon Boat Park, and a grand dragon boat feast, rivaling the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Dragon boat culture embodies the Jiujiang people's enduring spirit and pursuit of excellence. (Photo: Zhang Kaiquan)
The dragon boat spirit runs deep in the DNA of Jiujiang locals. (Photo: Zhang Kaiquan)
The 43rd Shangdong Traditional Dragon Boat Championship of the 2025 Golden Dragon Gala took place on Jiujiang Chong in Jiujiang Town. Over 40 boats from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area competed, with more than 1,000 participants of all ages in the new "Inheritance" and "Open" categories—the largest-scale championship in the gala's 43-year history.
Jiujiang Town buzzes with National Day excitement that rivals Chinese New Year celebrations. (Photo: Liang Yutong)
This year's dragon boat races feature a new "Inheritance Group" category. (Photo: Liang Yutong)
That morning, a five-person dragon boat race took place on Haishou Island, where lightweight crews competed fiercely along the widest stretch of the Xijiang River.
The wide Xijiang River becomes a racecourse for five-person dragon boats. (Photo: Liang Ping)
In the evening, Jiujiang Dragon Boat Park officially opened, becoming a new cultural landmark that preserves dragon boat heritage. Funded by local entrepreneurs Guan Jiechu and Wu Qilan, the 75-mu (≈5-hectare) park features dragon boat elements throughout and will complement an upcoming international-standard race track.
The Dragon Boat Park opening is celebrated with a thousand-person dragon boat feast. (Photo: Liang Ping)
"Dragon boat racing is not just a test of strength, but a legacy of spirit," said Gu Yaohui, Secretary of the CPC Nanhai District Committee. "It has become woven into the city's fabric, driving innovation and development."
After the races, a thousand-person dragon boat feast was held to celebrate the park's opening, immersing residents in the town's festive holiday atmosphere.
Reporter: Sun Jingfeng
Editor: Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
