The 21st Shanghai Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament will take place from May 24 to 25 at the waters near Brilliant City and Mengqing Park.

This year's event has set a decade-high record with 1,078 participants forming 58 teams competing across five categories: elite, open, university, high school, and community divisions. The elite and university divisions will race 22-person dragon boats, while open, community, and high school divisions will compete in 12-person boats. In addition to the 200-meter straight course, elite and open divisions will also race a 100-meter sprint.

Following last year's participation of top international teams from Russia and France, this edition welcomes crews from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada. Notably, foreign correspondents from Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Hungary, and Singapore based in Shanghai have formed a press team to experience the dragon boat tradition firsthand.

Cultural immersion remains central to the event's mission. The organizing committee has arranged special activities including an ice dragon boat experience at Putuo Ice Sports Center for the Benelux combined team "Team Intern2China." Meanwhile, Australia's Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club members will spend "A Day as a Shanghainese" in Caoyang neighborhood, exploring local customs and Dragon Boat Festival traditions.

Complementing the races, a "Dragon Boats on the River" themed festival will run concurrently at Mengqing Eco-Park and Tian An 1000 Trees, featuring traditional crafts, intangible cultural heritage displays, sports, and gourmet offerings.