2018 Cross-Strait Jimei Dragon Boat Cultural Festival opens on June 2

The first events of the 10th Straits Forum, the 2018 Cross-Strait Jimei Dragon Boat Cultural Festival, as well as the "Tan Kah-Kee Cup" and "Jingxian Cup" Cross-Strait Dragon Boat Races have been scheduled to take place in Jimei, Xiamen on June 2nd and 3rd.

Aside from the traditional cultural forum, recitals of classics and the poem day, this year’s event will also include a cross-strait dragon boat fair, a dragon boat race on dry land, and many other exciting performances and activities, according to a press conference held by the organizers on Monday.

In addition, traditional folk lion dancers from Taiwan have been invited to give a performance for the opening ceremony.

Dragon Boat Race

The annual dragon boat race and the 5th China Dragon Boat Tug-of-War Open of Jimei Station will start on June 2nd.

A total of 53 teams have already registered for the competition, which includes races over 200 and 500 meters as well as a dragon boat tug-of-war.

Of these teams, 24 are from Taiwan, 9 from other provinces than Fujian, and 20 from Xiamen, one of which is made up entirely of international students.

In accord with the traditions of the festival, the organizers redirected the racing routes from east to west.

Dragon Boat Cultural Festival

In addition to the competition, this year’s festival also features a range of exciting activities on the sidelines, including a cross-strait dragon boat fair, a dragon boat race on dry land, a reading party, a Jimei poem day, a cultural forum, a drawing competition for young children, as well as multiple parent-children activities.