Latest news with #DragonBoatRaces
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Nezha', ‘Sailor Moon' compete in Hong Kong dragon boat races
Competitors at the 2025 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races at Tsim Sha Tsui East... Competitors at the 2025 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races at Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade. Photo:... share
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Chinese legends, Disney characters compete in Hong Kong dragon boat race
Competitors marked the final day of Hong Kong's International Dragon Boat Races on Sunday by donning an array of colourful costumes that included beloved characters from animated films and Chinese folklore. Hongkongers, expats and a team of visiting Canadian paddlers were among those taking part in the fancy dress competition held on the event's second day. The contest was organised by the city's Tourism Board and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association. Toronto's Water Vipers dragon boat team was among the nine groups competing for the best fancy dress, with their around 22-strong crew rocking up to the event with geese hats. Water Vipers paddler Christopher Trotman, 36, said his team was spending about a week in Hong Kong amid the competition. 'So far it's been great,' he said. 'Toronto is a very multicultural city, so we have people who are locals from Hong Kong, and that's been great in helping us experience the city.' The Hong Kong Disneyland team rocked outfits inspired by the animated movie Moana. Photo: Eugene Lee The fancy dress contest put an emphasis on style over racing, with those taking to the waters including a team from the MTR Corporation, who dressed up as popular Chinese legends Wukong and Ne Zha.
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
190 teams set to race in Hong Kong's biggest dragon boat event since 2019
About 4,500 athletes from 190 teams across 12 countries are set to compete in the upcoming Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, following a series of pre-event activities that will include a food market and a pop-up store. The event will be the largest since Covid-19 affected the city, although it remains significantly smaller than pre-pandemic editions. The Tourism Board said on Tuesday that the 2025 edition of the 'Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races' would take place from June 7 to 8. Participants representing 190 teams from 12 countries would take part in 19 races, including local and mainland Chinese groups as well as those from the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, the board added. The event will also welcome participants from Qatar and Egypt for the first time. 5 pop culture nods to Dragon Boat Festival from sci-fi to Animal Crossing 'We have taken innovation to new heights this year by transforming the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races into an immersive day-and-night dragon boat carnival,' said Tourism Board executive director Dane Cheng Ting-yat. 'The event offers visitors and locals a blend of cultural activities and celebrations steeped in Hong Kong's East-meets-West heritage, enriching the city's potential for mega-event tourism.' The races will build upon the momentum of earlier festivities, starting May 31, when a 'Dragon Boat Food Lane' will launch at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui and run for nine consecutive days, offering a variety of Dragon Boat Festival-themed snacks such as rice dumplings, boat-shaped iced treats and drinks. The food market will open daily from 1pm to 10pm. A panda-themed pop-up store selling souvenirs and a photo spot, featuring the city's six pandas living at Ocean Park, will also be set up on the launch day. The 'Mixed Championship' event of the 2024 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races. Photo: Dickson Lee Throughout the race days, flash mobs of acrobatic performances by Cirque du Soleil will take place at Avenue of Stars and the Urban Council Centenary Garden, while a beer garden will also be set up in the area from 2pm to 10pm, offering four varieties of draught beer for spectators. Tourists can redeem a voucher for one complimentary beer by visiting designated Tourism Board visitor centres or at a collection point at the East Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. In 2023 and 2024, the event featured about 170 teams and around 4,000 athletes – significantly fewer than in pre-Covid years, with 272 teams joining in 2019 and 269 in 2018. Each of those two pre-pandemic editions welcomed about 6,000 competitors. 'Looking ahead, we will continue to build closer partnerships with the business community to drive the success of such events and unlock even greater economic benefits for our city,' Cheng said on Tuesday. The event will also have new additions this year, such as a Secondary Schools Championship and a Disciplinary Forces Championship, which the board said was aimed at engaging young people and various community groups in the tradition of dragon boat racing.
South China Morning Post
13-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Dragon Boat competition in Hong Kong to draw 4,500 athletes from 12 countries
About 4,500 athletes representing 190 teams from 12 countries are set to compete in the coming Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, following a series of pre-event activities such as a food market and pop-up store. The event will be the largest one yet since Covid-19 affected the city, although it remains significantly smaller than pre-pandemic levels. The Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Tuesday that the 2025 edition of the 'Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races' would take place from June 7 to 8. Participants representing 190 teams from 12 countries would take part in 19 races, including local and mainland Chinese groups as well as those from the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, the tourism board added. The games will also welcome participants from Qatar and Egypt for the first time. 'We have taken innovation to new heights this year by transforming the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races into an immersive day-and-night dragon boat carnival,' said Tourism Board Executive Director Dane Cheng Ting-yat. 'The event offers visitors and locals a blend of cultural activities and celebrations steeped in Hong Kong's east-meets-west heritage, enriching the city's potential for mega-event tourism.'
