On May 10, the rhythmic pounding of drums marked the start of the 21st Putuo District Official Dragon Boat Race and the Putuo District Middle School Dragon Boat Championships, which also served as the qualifying event for the 2025 Shanghai Suzhou Creek Urban Dragon Boat Invitational .

A total of 500 participants from 36 teams battled it out on the 200-meter course. Oars churned the water as crews, chanting in unison, pushed their limits—so close were the races that bow-to-stern finishes made winners hard to distinguish.

After intense competition, 14 teams earned advancement to the 21st Shanghai Suzhou Creek Urban Dragon Boat Invitational, scheduled for May 23–25 along the river’s Brilliant City and Mengqing Park sections.

This premier event will feature 58 elite teams from China and abroad across five divisions: elite group, university group, international group, community group and middle school group.