Clear green waters connect hearts across both banks.

On 12 June local time, on the occasion of the third UN International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations, the “In the Same Boat, Learning from Each Other” China-UK Dragon Boat Culture Exchange Event, hosted by the China National Tourists Office (CNTO) London, was held in Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. More than 100 Chinese and foreign representatives gathered to use the dragon boat as a medium to discuss dialogue among civilisations and renew China-UK friendship.

This exchange event also raised the curtain for the new session of the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, which will be held in Salford the following day.

Using Dragon Boats as a Link to Connect Mutual Learning Among Civilisations

Tang Rui, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester, stated in his speech that 10 June marks the UN International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations. The exchange event, themed “In the Same Boat, Learning from Each Other”, closely links dragon boat racing with China-UK cultural exchange, carrying profound significance. He pointed out that cultural exchange is an effective path to promote dialogue among civilisations and achieve global peace and win-win outcomes. He added that dragon boat racing inherits the core spiritual values of solidarity, collaboration, and striving to be the first, which are central to the Chinese nation.

Tang reviewed that over the past decade or so, the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival has been successfully held in Salford and remains deeply loved by the British public, effectively promoting people-to-people bonds between China and the UK. He expressed his anticipation for this year’s festival to be even more exciting and memorable, bringing the hearts of the two peoples closer and deepening the integration of civilisations.

“Only by Working Together Can the Boat Move Forward”

Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester and Mayor of Salford, warmly welcomed the Chinese guests in his speech. He expressed that the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival has become a highlight on the city’s cultural calendar, noting that the dragon boat spirit of “only when everyone works together can the boat move forward” deeply aligns with the civic spirit of Salford.

“Tonight’s exchange is about friendship,” he said. “Tomorrow, thousands of citizens will witness the dragon boat spectacular together, and tonight is a valuable opportunity for all parties to engage in deep exchanges, share stories, and enhance connections.” He emphasised that Salford will continue to work hand-in-hand with Chinese partners to deepen cooperation in fields such as culture, education, and tourism, ensuring that the tree of friendship remains evergreen.

A Millennia-Old Dragon Boat Building a Bridge for People-to-People Connectivity

Zhang Li, Director of CNTO London, pointed out in his speech that holding the dragon boat cultural exchange event on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations is a vivid practice of implementing civilisational dialogue and deepening the people-to-people bonds between China and the UK.

Zhang Li stated that the dragon boat is the core symbol of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival culture. Inherited for over two thousand years, it carries the spirit of being in the same boat, unity, hard work, openness, and inclusiveness. Both China and the UK are world-renowned major nations in terms of civilisation and sports, possessing profound cultural heritage and a solid foundation for exchange. He hoped to take this event as an opportunity to continuously enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries, contributing to the healthy and stable development of China-UK relations. He emphasised that CNTO London will continue to collaborate with various sectors in the UK to deepen culture and tourism cooperation, and cultivate the traditional friendship between China and the UK.

Crossing Mountains and Seas: Lingnan Dragon Boats Debut in Britain

At this year’s UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, two teams from Liede and Yangji in Guangzhou will compete alongside 50 local British teams, jointly presenting an exciting dragon boat race.

“At this moment before the race, my feelings can be described in four words: excited and expectant,” said Li Chiying, representative of the Guangzhou Dragon Boat Team and Chairman of Guangzhou Liede Economic Development Co., Ltd., who could not hide his emotions about crossing mountains and seas to compete in the UK. He shared that he is excited to race in the same boat and exchange skills with British athletes, and expectant about bringing Chinese dragon boat culture—especially the millennia-old dragon boat spirit inherited from the Lingnan Cantonese region—to British shores, allowing more friends to learn about this ancient yet vibrant traditional sport.

He noted that the dragon boat is a bridge connecting different cultures and an envoy of friendship. Through this trip, he hopes to better share the spirit of “being in the same boat and striving to be the first”, and to convey the cultural roots of the Chinese nation, which encompass unity, hard work, ancestral reverence, and love for one’s hometown. He also sincerely invited the British friends present to visit China, Lingnan, and Liede in Guangzhou to experience the grand dragon boat scenes of the water towns, drink a cup of dragon boat tea, eat a dragon boat meal, and personally feel the century-old passion flowing along the banks of the Pearl River.

Paddles in the Car Park Cement Friendship on the Racecourse

Jane Kirk-Bagshaw, representative of the British Zink Dragon Boat Team, who has participated in the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival multiple times, shared that she will continue to lead new team members to compete this year, allowing more people to feel the charm of dragon boat racing. She recalled that the team members used to practise on chairs in a car park using homemade paddles, and it was precisely those experiences that brought the team close together.

They hope that the training and competition bring not just results, but more importantly, friendship and team spirit—an unusual and exciting shared goal. At the end of her speech, she extended wishes of “Duanwu Ankang” (Safe and Healthy Dragon Boat Festival) and “Xiexie” (Thank you) in Chinese, winning warm applause from the audience.

Dragon and Lion Heads Convey Deep Affection

A gift presentation ceremony was also held at the venue.

Representatives from the Guangzhou Yangji and Liede dragon boat teams presented souvenirs with distinctive Lingnan characteristics, such as dragon heads and lion heads, to representatives of the Salford City Council, the British Dragon Boat Association, and local British dragon boat teams, expressing the deep friendship of “being in the same boat”.

Each gift carried the enthusiasm and blessings of the Lingnan people, pushing the atmosphere of this China-UK cultural exchange to a climax.

One paddle, one world; sharing this journey in the same boat. From the banks of the Pearl River to the waterways of Salford, and from the two-thousand-year memory of the Dragon Boat Festival to today’s China-UK gathering, the dragon boat’s message of “being in the same boat and striving to be the first” is becoming a common language for two ancient civilisations to reflect each other and move forward hand-in-hand. CNTO London will continue to build more platforms for mutual learning among civilisations, ensuring that the vessel of friendship between China and the UK sails steadily and reaches far.

This event was hosted by the China National Tourists Office (CNTO) London, co-organised by People’s Daily Online UK, the UK Xinhua Association, and the British Dragon Boat Association, with support from Guizhou Xijiu.