Storyline: The 11th UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, featuring races and performances, kicked off at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester on Sunday, showcasing rich traditional Chinese culture and fostering people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang, Consul General of China's Consulate-General in Manchester Tang Rui, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester and Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett, along with nearly 10,000 participants, including overseas Chinese, students, representatives from Chinese enterprises, and local residents, attended the event. A total of 49 teams participated in the dragon boat race, including the renowned Cambridge University team. Originating in China thousands of years ago, the dragon boat race is one of many traditions celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, which commemorates the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC) on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, falls on May 31 this year. In addition to the dragon boat race, the organizers arranged a vibrant array of performances highlighting traditional Chinese culture, including martial arts, dragon and lion dances, and Qin Opera. Shotlist: Salford, Manchester, UK - May 25, 2025: 1. Ribbon-cutting ceremony of 11th UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in progress 2. Chinese, British officials watching dragon boat race 3. Various of dragon boat race in progress; dragon-shaped decoration on boat 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester; Mayor of Salford: "This is the annual Chinese dragon boat race and I think this is the 11th time this has happened in our city of Salford and this dragon boat race is the largest in Europe celebrating Chinese tradition, culture, and heritage." 5. Various of dragon boat race in progress 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Participant of dragon boat race (name not given): "Well, I just thought it was about bringing people together and supporting Chinese culture but also bringing people together and recognizing the influences for Chinese people in Manchester." 7. Performance of Qin Opera in progress 8. People watching performance 9. People at cultural market. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]