Shanghai airports expect significant growth in cross-border passenger trips during Dragon Boat Festival holiday

Shanghai's two major airports are expected to handle more than 360,000 cross-border passenger trips during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, a 12.4 percent surge compared with the same period of last year, according to local immigration authorities.

On Thursday, the day before the three-day holiday, both Pudong and Hongqiao international airports saw a significant influx of outbound adventurers and inbound travelers from around the globe.

"I take two extra days off to extend the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, and go with several friends to Kota Kinabalu (in Malaysia). We want to go there to see the sea," said traveler Jiang Yuanyuan, capturing the mood of many young employees who combine the public holiday with annual leave to extend their getaways into longer escapes.

Graduation travel has also hit its peak as high school seniors wrapped up their college entrance exams, with short-haul destinations such as Southeast Asian countries emerging as top choices for family trips.

"I'm taking my mom and grandma on a graduation trip, and we have chosen Malaysia as the destination. It's actually the first time for both of them to travel abroad. Since there's a large Chinese community there, I have figured that the culture and food would feel more familiar to them," said newly minted graduate Yao Huizi.

In the arrivals hall, foreign tourists are flocking in under China's visa-free policies, eager to immerse themselves in the traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival.

"I've heard about the Dragon Boat Festival. I'm really excited to see if we're going to notice anything in the city. I'm really excited to be here with my brother and my mom for the second time," said Koopman Elisa, a traveler from the Netherlands.

Shanghai's gateway airports are poised for a bustling long weekend, with an average of 121,000 crossings per day, according to the Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, the festival falls on June 19, with the three-day holiday running through June 21.

Shanghai airports expect significant growth in cross-border passenger trips during Dragon Boat Festival holiday

Sansha, China's southernmost city, welcomed the Dragon Boat Festival on Wednesday with a spirited race over the South China Sea, where thunderous drumbeats and roaring cheers transformed the azure waters into a spectacle of tradition and unity.

The second annual South China Sea Dragon Boat Race drew 14 competing teams to the Xiyu Fishing Pier on Yongxing Island, where local fishermen reinvented their everyday workboats as majestic "fishing-style dragon vessels." With painted bows cutting through the waves, each crew chased not just victory, but pride for their community.

"It's my first time competing in this event on the island, and I've already won a championship. I couldn't be more excited and happy," said Guo Wenhao, one of the participants.

Out on the water, paddlers moved in furious unison, their oars churning the sea into clouds of white foam. Along the shore, cheer squads waved flags and shouted encouragement, each team bringing its own passionate supporters to rally them forward. The air was thick with tension and exhilaration.

"The atmosphere was incredibly intense. Every contestant worked very hard, and there were many exciting races to watch," said spectator Guo Yaru.

The competition also featured an innovative dragon-boat tug-of-war on the water, drawing several teams eager to test their strength and coordination in a whole new way.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to win this championship. We owe it to the unity of our whole team. Through every practice, even when our hands blistered from gripping the oars, not a single one of us complained," said He Shicun, a participant.

The Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu Festival, the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on June 19, this year. Its signature tradition -- dragon boat racing -- dates back over 2,000 years. Today, the race reflects teamwork, courage, and perseverance, while also serving as a cultural tradition and global sport that brings communities together.

Roaring dragon boat racing brings festival fever to China's southernmost city