Two dragon boat teams from Guangzhou’s Tianhe District achieved remarkable success at the 12th UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival held in Greater Manchester on June 13, with Liede Dragon Boat Team winning the championship and Yangji Dragon Boat Team securing third place. The event attracted over 50 teams and tens of thousands of spectators across the UK. Beyond the competition, the festival showcased Chinese cultural traditions through performances, folk art, and interactive exhibitions, highlighting dragon boating as a powerful bridge for cultural exchange and strengthening people-to-people connections between China and the United Kingdom.
London, United Kingdom, 17th Jun 2026 - The sound of beating drums filled the waters of Salford Quays in Greater Manchester as Guangzhou’s centuries-old dragon boat tradition made a remarkable appearance in the United Kingdom, bringing the vibrant spirit of Lingnan culture overseas.
On June 13, two dragon boat teams from Tianhe District in Guangzhou delivered an impressive performance at the 12th UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. Among more than 50 competing teams, the Liede Dragon Boat Team secured first place, while the Yangji Dragon Boat Team earned third place, marking a strong showing for Guangzhou on the international stage.
Award ceremony at the 12th UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.
Recognized as one of the largest celebrations of Chinese culture in Europe, this year’s festival attracted tens of thousands of spectators and participants from diverse backgrounds, including representatives from the UK National Health Service, multinational companies, universities, local government institutions, Chinese enterprises, and overseas Chinese communities. The event once again demonstrated dragon boating’s unique role in connecting people across cultures.
Guangzhou’s Liede Dragon Boat Team wins the championship title.
Both competing teams from Guangzhou carry deep historical ties to the city’s dragon boat heritage. Liede Village, which has nearly 900 years of history, has long preserved its dragon boat traditions, with local races dating back more than a century. The team has previously gained international recognition after winning a dragon boat competition in Auckland, New Zealand, and this year’s victory in the UK further strengthened its growing international reputation.
Li Chiying, chairman of Liede Economic Development Co. Ltd and representative of the Guangzhou delegation, said the athletes overcame jet lag and gave their all throughout the competition. He emphasized that the festival represented far more than a sporting event, as cultural performances including lion dances, folk art showcases, and gatherings of overseas Chinese communities created an important platform for sharing Chinese culture abroad.
For the athletes, the experience also carried special significance. Li Jingwen from the Yangji Dragon Boat Team described dragon boating as a sport built on unity and collective effort. She said that while the Duanwu Festival atmosphere in China remains deeply rooted in tradition, competing overseas offered a unique opportunity to experience how dragon boating naturally serves as a bridge for cultural communication between China and the UK.
Guangzhou’s Yangji Dragon Boat Team claimed third place in the competition.
Liang Zhanpeng, head coach of the Liede team, said he was deeply impressed by the enthusiastic support from local spectators during his first time competing in Britain. According to him, the atmosphere at the event was unforgettable, and the team hopes to return for future competitions.
Aerial view of the final race.
Founded by the Xinhua Chinese Association in 2012, the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival has grown into one of Europe’s most influential celebrations of traditional Chinese culture. Ahead of the race, Chinese Consul General in Manchester Tang Rui highlighted the festival’s role in strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and Britain, while Salford Mayor Paul Dennett praised the dragon boat spirit of unity and cooperation as values shared by the local community.
Beyond the races, the festival offered visitors an immersive cultural experience through martial arts demonstrations, calligraphy exhibitions, traditional Chinese music, Chinese medicine presentations, and a large-scale theatrical production inspired by China’s historic Grand Canal, allowing British audiences to engage more deeply with Chinese heritage.
The event featured a wide range of Chinese cultural displays and interactive experiences.
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