An international team participates in the Jinhua Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament on Oct 20. [Photo/Tide News]

The Jinhua Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament kicked off in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on Oct 20. A total of 19 teams with over 520 athletes, including dragon boat enthusiasts from across the country and international students, vigorously paddled along the Wujiang River.

The event featured 200-meter and 500-meter straight races, with separate competitions for male and female teams. Crowds gathered along the riverbanks, creating a lively atmosphere with the continuous sounds of drums and cheers filling the air.

Among the participants, one team comprising over 30 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students from Zhejiang Normal University attracted much attention. Established in 2017, team leader Ruan Beiyi explained that the team members come from a variety of majors, ranging from novices to seasoned veterans in dragon boat racing.

Two international students from Algeria and Morocco, who just started learning dragon boating this year, have participated in races for the second time. Kisanzo Khadija Ally from Tanzania expressed a desire to stay in Jinhua after graduation and introduce more Tanzanians to dragon boating and Chinese culture.