Sporting traditions

Dragon boat racing

Boasting deep roots in the ancient folk rituals of Chinese villagers, dragon-headed wooden boats have been part of religious ceremonies and folk customs during Duanwu Festival in early June for over 2,000 years throughout southern China. From its beginnings in Hong Kong in 1976, dragon boat racing has emerged in modern times as an international sport, and teams from many different countries now compete.

Kite flying

Flying kites is a popular leisure activity in north China during spring outings on sunny and breezy days around the Tomb-Sweeping Day holidays in early April. Invented in China, kites come in all shapes and sizes, and they are often elaborately decorated. Weifang, Shandong province, is the kite capital of China, and it hosts the annual international kite festival and competition on a large salt flats in the city's southern suburb.

Mountain climbing

Climbing mountains has been a traditional cultural custom for Chinese people during the Double Ninth Festival, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, in October. Mass fitness activities featuring climbing and hiking are held every year in mountainous areas in China during this period.

Horse racing

Horse racing, wrestling and archery are recreational sports events held in Inner Mongolia autonomous region during the annual Nadam Festival, a grand gathering of the region's ethnic people during the golden period of autumn between July and August when the grass is ripe and the livestock in the best physical condition. To celebrate the festival, a series of horse racing competitions are held every year during Nadam in Northwest China. Winter sports are also popular in North China, and tourists can join the locals skiing, skating and snowmobile racing.

(China Daily European Weekly 07/04/2014 page23)