Foreign competitors learn more about Chinese culture through dragon boat races

Down in the playground of Shanghai Jiangning School, adjacent to the Suzhou Creek in the Putuo district, Allen Wan's jokes sent his teammates into fits of laughter, shortly after their team of foreign journalists competed in the 200m dragon boat race on May 24.

The race was a part of the 21st Shanghai Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament, which took place during a sunny two-day weekend before the annual Dragon Boat Festival.

This year, a record number of 58 dragon boat teams, including a total of 1,078 participants from all across the globe, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Russia and Malaysia, joined the competitions across five categories.

"I've done this for more than 10 years, actually not every year, but more than 10 years, it's a great opportunity to sort of interact with the local community and also learn more about Chinese culture," said Wan, a journalist who works for the Bloomberg News Shanghai bureau.

Born and raised in New York, Wan first came to Shanghai in 1988. Now, he has been living and working in Shanghai for 15 years, and he is so impressed by what China has done in the last 30 years.

"I just wouldn't have the chance to do what I do here in New York. I think Shanghai is just a great place for you to find whatever you wanna do," said Wan.

"I am a sports person. I like boxing and softball. I'm a member of the Shanghai Softball League and I play softball every Saturday. I'm a member of the Aboro Boxing Gym and I train like almost every day," said Wan.

Growing up watching a lot of Bruce Lee films in Cantonese, Wan paid tribute to his idol by wearing a pair of Bruce Lee-style shoes to compete in the races.

"I'm a big fan of Bruce Lee because I think that he represents courage and the spirit of never giving up," said Wan.

For Sonya Loher from Switzerland, that's also her sports philosophy. "One thing is for sure: we try our best. We aim to have a very good result," said Loher, who participated in her 3rd dragon boat tournament.

"I think there are not so many sports that combine everything. It combines teamwork, stamina and technique. And you also need to have a strong body," said Loher.

As the captain of the team Bainiangzi, Loher explained that they chose the name because they like the fable of Fa Hai, a fictional Buddhist monk and a major character of the Legend of the While Snake, one of China's most popular folktales.

Living in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Loher and her husband traveled to Shanghai for the tournament, however, this journey served more than a sports event, but a family reunion time where her son and daughter flew from Switzerland to Shanghai and joined the races.

"I think one thing is the culture behind. After all, dragon boat originated here. The other thing is the family part of it. We do social things together, such as barbecue, other outings, and even knitting courses," said Loher.

Loher praised that Shanghai's high-quality sports events and beautiful scenery are huge advantages for the city.

But Loher wasn't the only one. Among those was An De Rademaeker, a graduate student at Fudan University from Belgium and a volunteer at the Benelux Chamber of Commerce.

Participating in her first dragon boat races, De Rademaeker is a member of the Benelux International Dragons Team, who is really excited and thankful for the opportunity.

"Shanghai's sports atmosphere is great, especially in universities, where there are all kinds of activities," said De Rademaeker.

Despite starting to study in Shanghai in August, De Rademaeker is no stranger to China as her mother is Chinese. Therefore, from a young age, she frequently visited China during holidays.

"When I first decided which city in China to study in, I immediately chose Shanghai because I felt it embodies a unique blend of metropolitan and international elements, showcasing both ancient and modern Chinese culture. It truly reflects China's fast-growing economy and offers a convenient lifestyle," said De Rademaeker.

"I think that the experiences of this past year will greatly benefit my future life and development. I appreciate this opportunity, and I eagerly anticipate continuing to build my career in China after graduation," said De Rademaeker.

Li Junfeng contributed to this story.