Vessel for unity

China's ancient tradition of dragon boat racing offers its participants more than just a way to sweat, Chen Xue reports.

On Aug 3, 2021, a dragon boat race was performed as a demonstration sport at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The ten-minute showcase introduced the traditional Chinese sport to the rest of the world on the grand Olympic stage for the very first time, taking it one step closer to becoming listed as an Olympic sport.

But in fact, more than 20 years ago, He Ming was already doing his part to help introduce dragon boat racing to the world — starting with foreign expats living in China.

He, 52, founded the Beijing International Dragon Boat Club in 2001. "I thought, as the capital city of China, Beijing should play a more important role in promoting traditional Chinese cultural activities like dragon boat racing. And as an international metropolis, Beijing is also a good starting point to get more foreigners involved," said He.

Back in 2001, the internet wasn't yet a universal means for people to get information, so He got the word out by printing advertisements in English magazines. To his surprise, people soon started showing up, and he established his first team in 2002.

"I was impressed by how curious these foreigners were about Chinese culture. They were eager to learn and participate in the traditions of the land where they were staying," said He.

Dragon boat racing is very different from other Chinese sports that are popular among foreigners — sports like martial arts, which are usually done solo, not in a team. In dragon boat racing, everyone on board — the steersperson, the drummer, and all the paddlers — has to work together and stay in sync. According to He, it might be another reason that attracts people to the sport.

"Dragon boat racing is about teamwork, unity and friendship, not individualism," said He.

In the past 20 years, his club has attracted members from up to 30 countries from the world's six habitable continents — including Finland, Rwanda, Russia and Mexico. According to He, some team members are so committed that even after returning to their home countries, they still try to race for the team in international competitions overseas.

So far, the team has won two championships — at the Shenyang International Dragon Boat Open in 2007 and the Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival in the Philippines in 2015.

Getting good results is exciting, but to He, participation is most important. In the upcoming race in Beijing for the Dragon Boat Festival — which falls on June 22 this year — He is determined to give everyone on the team a chance to compete. As long as they register for the race, they will get a seat on the boat. No selection rounds are needed.

"Dragon boat racing is a very inclusive sport and it should be enjoyed by everyone," said He.