- The UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival comes to Salford Quays 17-18 June 2023
- Event to be bigger than before, bringing together the Xinhua Chinese Association event and the British Dragon Boat Association
- Festival across two days will feature amateurs as well as more experienced racers
- Applications for team entries now open
A collaboration between Xinhua Chinese Association, Salford City Council and the British Dragon Boat Racing Association (BDA) will create an unmissable two-day event. The first day, Saturday 17 June will see amateur racers taking to the water, with more experienced teams competing on the second day, Sunday 18 June.
(Left to right - Dr Hanxin Yang (Chairman of Xinhua Chinese Association), Mr Zhiyu Yang (Deputy Consul-General, Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Manchester), Paul Dennett (Salford City Mayor), Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys (Ceremonial Mayor of Salford) and Neil Pickles (Chairman of the BDA)
Dragon Boat Racing is a fun-filled, adrenaline pumping, water sports activity, which originated in China around 2300 years ago. It has taken place at Salford Quays for the last decade, and this year it is set to be bigger and better than ever before.
The event is open to teams and competitors aged 16 and over, and for those spectating, it is a chance to support the teams racing and engage with Chinese culture. There will be spectacular cultural performances, including tai chi and kung fu and lessons in Chinese calligraphy.
The launch of the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival 2023 and Memorandum of Understanding signing was held 9 March at The Lowry, opposite Huron Basin, where the event will be held in June. Representatives of the Parties signed an agreement to work collaboratively to make this year’s UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival even more successful than previous years.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “I’m delighted that Salford City Council is supporting what promises to be another fantastic event for the city. I’d like to thank everyone involved in helping to make this possible.
"This event presents a great opportunity for us to showcase our city to all those coming to take part and experience dragon boat racing and to a huge TV audience watching in China. As a city, we’re proud of our links with the Chinese community here in Greater Manchester and proud to be hosting this incredible event.”
Dr. Hanxin Yang, Chairman, Xinhua Chinese Association said: “We look forward to building friendship and understanding through this event here in Salford. Our aim is to help make contributions to multiculturalism and an inclusive society.”
Neil Pickles, Chairman, the BDA said: “This year’s Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, to be held here in Salford, will be a great opportunity to showcase the best club groups from around the country. As well as enjoying the Chinese culture, which is so important and ingrained in our sport.”
Applications are now open via the festival website. The deadline to apply is Friday 12 May 2023 and the teams must include ten people.
The festival is a charitable event, with 10 per cent (£70 of £700) of teams’ entry fee being donated to Action For Children.
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- Date published
- Friday 10 March 2023