A short documentary telling the story of an amateur dragon boat team preparing for a race was showcased in China Media Group (CMG)'s Duanwu Festival special program, highlighting the ordinary Chinese citizens' competitive and persevering spirit.
The special program aired on Friday to mark the Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival. The festival is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan (339-278 BC) from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).
Broadcast on different CMG platforms and featuring several short documentaries, the special program was broadcast in four main parts to reflect the four customary phases of the dragon boat festival: Qi Long (dragon awakening), Zhao Jing (villages exchanging invitations for gathering of dragon boats), dragon boat racing, and returning to the shore.
Within the special program's third part, the short documentary spotlighted members of a grassroots dragon boat team from all walks of life in Linyi City in east China's Shandong Province, dedicating themselves to their professions, but transforming into a unified force after boarding the dragon boat and training for races along the local Yihe River.
The third part also featured a fusion performance of song and street dance named "Lisao," which is also the name of a renowned poem by Qu Yuan.
The piece paid tribute to Qu Yuan's poetry, while infusing it with contemporary hip-hop choreography and bridging thousands of years of cultural heritage with modern artistic expression.
Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Duanwu Festival fell on Friday this year.
Its signature tradition -- dragon boat racing -- dates back over 2,000 years. Today, the racing reflects teamwork, courage, and perseverance, while also serving as a cultural tradition and a global sport that bring communities together.
Dragon boat team documentary highlights spirit of perseverance in Duanwu Festival special program
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), the body responsible for maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, announced on Friday new procedures for vessels seeking passage through the waterway, including a requirement that transit requests be submitted at least 48 hours in advance.
In a post on social media platform X, the PGSA stressed that only vessels that comply with the requirements will be "cleared for passage promptly."
The PGSA said passage requests must be submitted exclusively through its website and email address, and must include vessels' "valid and accessible" contact information. To avoid delays, vessels are required to submit passage requests and necessary information "at least 48 hours prior to arrival at the strait area," it said.
The PGSA also announced that, during the 60-day period specified in the newly signed peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States, ships will be exempt from charges related to passage through the strait. Costs associated with security, safety and environmental services, as well as related Iranian insurance requirements, will be covered by the Iranian government.
Vessels must coordinate with Iranian authorities in advance regarding the designated route and time of crossing the Strait of Hormuz, it said, adding that vessel owners will bear responsibility for any failure to comply with the regulation.
The announcement came a day after Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) issued an order for the swift handling of requests by vessels for passage through the Strait of Hormuz in line with the Iran-U.S. MoU.
According to the SNSC, under the MoU, no fee will be charged for 60 days for passage by ships requesting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, and all the expenses will be covered by the Iranian government.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.
Iran issues new procedures for vessels requesting passage through Strait of Hormuz
