Thousands of spectators on Sunday lined the waterfront in Salford, Greater Manchester, as Europe's largest dragon boat race brought a spectacular display of sport and culture to northern England. Launched in 2012, the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF) promotes friendship and cultural understanding between China and the UK, and continues to grow in scale and significance, drawing participants from across the country and beyond. This year, more than 40 teams took to the water, representing organizations including the Bank of China and Manchester City Football Club. Teams competed in traditional dragon boats, each powered by 10 paddlers, guided by a steersperson, and kept in sync by a central drummer - the symbolic heartbeat of the boat. A youth race featured for the first time this year, giving local college students a chance to get involved in the action. "When you’re going up to the race, it's such good fun, everyone 'getting excited. And then when you are at the start of the race, it's like it's quite a unique experience. And during the race, you can't, hear anything else, you're just trying to push hard and win the race. And then at the end, obviously when you win, it’s such a great feeling," said a specatator. Alongside the quayside, cultural festivities were held to entertain visitors -- from traditional lion and dragon dances, choral performance to food and crafts. Addressing the event, Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to UK, said there is vast room for cooperation between China and Greater Manchester. "The relationship between Greater Manchester and China has been deepening and expanding to the benefits of both sides. There's a lot more we can do together, in terms of trade, investment, clean energy, education, culture, sports," said the ambassador. Salford has a thriving Chinese community and around three percent of the Greater Manchester population are of Chinese heritage. SHOTLIST: Salford, Manchester, UK - May 25, 2025 1. Various of paddlers, drummer; 2. Various of dragon boat race in progress; 3. SOUNDBITE (English) audience member (name not given) (starting with shot 2): "When you’re going up to the race, it's such good fun, everyone 'getting excited. And then when you are at the start of the race, it's like it's quite a unique experience. And during the race, you can't, hear anything else, you're just trying to push hard and win the race. And then at the end, obviously when you win, it’s such a great feeling.”; 4. Cultural performance in progress; 5. Various of Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to UK; 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to UK (partially overlaid with shot 7): "The relationship between Greater Manchester and China has been deepening and expanding to the benefits of both sides. There's a lot more we can do together, in terms of trade, investment, clean energy, education, culture, sports."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. Zheng; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 8. Cultural performance in progress. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]