Traditional dragon boat races kicked off on Saturday in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, gathering 600 athletes from 20 teams across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao and showcasing speed and unity ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival.
The competing teams showed great enthusiasm and a strong competitive spirit. As the starting gun fired, the dragon boats shot forward like arrows off the string. Drummers seated at the prows pounded out powerful, rhythmic beats, while rowers moved in perfect sync.
The air was filled with a thrilling mix of chants, drumming, and cheers from the shore, creating an electrifying and majestic atmosphere.
After several rounds of intense competition, the dragon boat team from Guangdong's Yangjiang City clinched the championship with consistent performance and seamless teamwork.
"The competition environment in Zhuhai was excellent. The teams from Hong Kong and Macao that raced alongside us were also very skilled. We are overjoyed to have won this championship," said Liang Wenlong, a team member of the champion team from Yangjiang.
A Dragon Boat Festival carnival was held simultaneously by the riverside next to the race venue. It featured a long-table camping feast on the lawn, a giant inflatable dragon boat photo spot, and tasting booths for zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and handmade sachets. With a wonderful lineup of festive, tradition-rich activities, the carnival attracted over 15,000 visitors.
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday commemorating the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival falls on June 19 this year.
Dragon boat teams from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao race ahead of Duanwu Festival
Mounting inflation and household strain are amplifying calls across the United States to end the war with Iran, with residents urging the government to shift focus to restoring economic stability at home.
The war, which U.S. President Donald Trump claimed "could be ended in four days," has now dragged on for more than 100, fueling domestic inflation and public frustration.
Across Massachusetts, residents described how rising costs for fuel, food and utilities are straining household budgets and sharpening frustration with the conflict.
"I commute about 20 miles to work every day, luckily I do have a Prius, but the prices have gone up significantly. And for hardworking Americans like me and a lot of people out there, the prices can hurt the bank account," said one resident.
Beyond gasoline, consumers are reporting sharp increases in grocery bills and utility costs.
"Most especially, energy prices, natural gas that we use to heat the house," another local resident in Massachusetts said.
"Absolutely. I have noticed so many increases in like gas prices. You go over to the gas (station), it's like 4 U.S. dollars or 5 U.S. dollars (per gallon). You know what I mean? How are you supposed to live on this? It's insane. Food. You know (compared to) just a couple of months ago, you go to a grocery store and food is just so much more expensive. It's just the price of taxes going up," said a third.
While Trump defended the strikes on Iran as a necessary measure to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats, residents said that the government's top priority should be restoring economic stability for the sake of people's livelihoods.
"I mean I understand where Trump is coming from, trying to blot out, as you would say, Iran's capabilities of having nuclear possibilities. However, at the same time, we're suffering in the wake of everything that he has done thus far. So economically, energy, all those things are making the American people upset and unhappy. So he should concentrate on dealing with America first," said a resident.
"I also think that the priority should always be the American people. And I think the American people have already been struggling. And I think it's just the price of living has just gone up. It has become even harder to live and just to make ends meet. So I think the priority first and foremost should always be to helping the American people (to have) a stable economy," another resident said.
On Feb 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, hitting Tehran, Isfahan and Karaj, and killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior officials. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps retaliated the same day with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East and Israeli targets.
After more than a month of fighting, a temporary ceasefire was announced on April 8, followed by talks in Pakistan on April 11-12 that produced no breakthrough. Sporadic clashes resumed in May and intensified toward the end of the month. Since May 30, U.S. forces have struck Iranian positions along the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has repeatedly targeted American bases across the region.
US residents voice frustration as costs climb amid Iran war
