A dozen dragon boat teams from China, France and other Asian and European countries and regions raced on the Seine River in Paris on Sunday to celebrate the Duanwu or Dragon Boat Festival, exciting local residents in Chinese cultural vibes. The annual festival on the fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar Chinese calendar fell on Saturday this year. It is a time to get rid of misfortune as venomous animals were believed to appear at this juncture. It is also a time to commemorate the beloved Chinese poet Qu Yuan (339-278 BC) from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the Dragon Boat Festival on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, making it the first Chinese festival to be included in the list. As the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival have spread from China to the world, the traditional Chinese sport of dragon boat racing, which is an iconic activity held across China during this festival, has also set sail across the globe, demonstrating the spirit of unity and striving forward in traditional Chinese culture. During this year's Dragon Boat Festival, many countries have held dragon boat racing events, with the drumbeat echoing in the waters. A dozen dragon boat teams from China, France and several other countries and regions in Asia and Europe competed on the Seine River in Paris on Sunday, marking the third consecutive year that Paris has hosted such an event. According to the competition rules, each team must have at least two female paddlers. "I took part in this dragon boat race because it reminds me of the vibes of the Dragon Boat Festival I felt in China when I was a child, with dragon boat racing, zongzi (a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves), and various activities, which made me feel as if I had returned to my hometown. Moreover, it's a great moment to experience the charm of our traditional Chinese culture abroad," said Wu Xueyi, a paddler of the Chinese dragon boat team. "This event has allowed us to truly immerse ourselves in Chinese culture, learn a lot of things, and also feel the warmth of the people. After getting off the boat, everyone would high-five to celebrate. The atmosphere during the competition has been fantastic, even it was held here in France. Dragon boat racing is rapidly developing in France," said Beatrice, a contestant of the French dragon boat team. During last year's Paris Olympics, dragon boat racing made a stunning show as a demonstration sport, presenting the charm of this traditional Chinese sport to audiences from around the world. The dragon boat racing has further drawn international attention and become more internationally influential. For days around the Dragon Boat Festival this year, Serbia, Germany, Argentina, Britain, South Africa, Peru,Poland, New Zealand and many other countries have held dragon boat races and cultural exchange events. SHOTLIST: Paris, France - June 1, 2025 1. Various of dragon boat racing in progress; 2. Various of boats docking, audience; 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wu Xueyi, paddler, Chinese dragon boat team (partially overlaid with shot 4): "I took part in this dragon boat race because it reminds me of the vibes of the Dragon Boat Festival I felt in China when I was a child, with dragon boat racing, zongzi (a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves), and various activities, which made me feel as if I had returned to my hometown. Moreover, it's a great moment to experience the charm of our traditional Chinese culture abroad."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. Dragon-shaped decoration on boats; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 5. Various of people at cultural event; 6. Various of foreign people wearing traditional Chinese costumes; 7. SOUNDBITE (French) Beatrice (full name not given), paddler, French dragon boat team (starting with shot 6): "This event has allowed us to truly immerse ourselves in Chinese culture, learn a lot of things, and also feel the warmth of the people. After getting off the boat, everyone would high-five to celebrate. The atmosphere during the competition has been fantastic, even it was held here in France. Dragon boat racing is rapidly developing in France."; 8. Various of Chinese folklore performance in progress. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]