The third China-Serbia Duanwu International Dragon Boat Festival was held in the Serbian capital of Belgrade this weekend, highlighting bilateral cultural exchanges.
The two-day event brought together more than 300 paddlers of 16 teams representing China, Serbia, Hungary, Romania and other countries. Held on the waters of urban lake Ada Ciganlija, the festival featured 200-meter and 500-meter dragon boat races.
Organized by the Serbian Dragon Boat Federation and the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, this year's festival is the largest to date.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming said that the event has become a key symbol of the "ironclad friendship" between China and Serbia. He noted that the festival's spirit of patriotism and unity perfectly mirrors the development of bilateral relations.
Nikola Mijailovic, state secretary of Serbia's Ministry of Tourism and Youth, added that the event is "much more than a sports competition," it "represents a bond of unbreakable friendship" between Serbia and China.
"It has been ten years since dragon boat racing was introduced to Serbia and it is still thriving. Every year, our team membership grows, and more people take part in the races. It's a good thing," said Nikola, a Serbian dragon boat paddler.
Besides dragon boat competition, the event also offered various performances and exhibitions by artists from east China's Shandong Province, highlighting Yantai paper cutting, Konghou musical art and martial arts presentations.
"I love Chinese food. I tried something from every stall, and the zongzi was especially delicious," said a local resident.
Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, is a traditional Chinese food associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival. The festival, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month which falls on June 19 this year, commemorates ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).
China-Serbia dragon boat festival held in Belgrade
