A video of dragon boat paddlers from Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong Province, has gone viral on Chinese social media, with viewers marvelling at the rarely filmed power and precision of their synchronised strokes.
The video shows team members slamming their paddles into the water with explosive power, their bodies moving in perfect unison as the long boat surges forward.
In the Pearl River Delta, dragon boat racing is more than a seasonal spectacle. In Shunde, a district of Foshan known for its dense network of waterways, teams train all year round, drawing on a rich reserve of local athletes. The local racing style is distinctive: shorter, faster strokes kept close to the gunwale, shaped by generations of practice on narrow, tidal tributaries instead of open water.
Dragon boat racing in Guangdong is recognised as part of China's national intangible cultural heritage. Crisscrossed by rivers, Shunde has long been a core hub for this centuries-old tradition.
Author | Feng Huiting
Video | 追云视觉
Video editor | Huang Xinying, Feng Huiting
