As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, the 22nd Shanghai Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament will take place from June 12 to 14 in the Mengqing Garden water area. 

A benchmark event for the festival in Shanghai, this year’s competition has 51 dragon boat teams competing in four categories: Elite, University, Open, and Public.

The charm of racing on Suzhou Creek has captivated many participants. The Penang Dragon Boat Team from Malaysia will return to Suzhou Creek for the second time, having placed second in the Open category at the previous event.

The Vladivostok Tiger Dragon Boat Team from Russia also returns to Shanghai this year. The team won the International category championship in 2024.

The German Mei Long Dragon Boat Team, which originated on the banks of the Main River in Frankfurt, Germany, is a newcomer to this event. The team consists of overseas Chinese living in Germany as well as foreigners who love Chinese culture.

For the first time, dragon boat teams from prestigious Shanghai universities including Fudan, Tongji and Shanghai Jiao Tong University will gather on Suzhou Creek. The University category has also expanded to 12 teams.

The Elite category, representing the highest competitive level of the event, will see nine strong domestic teams racing against each other.

The competition will take place over two race days: June 13 and 14. The Elite and University categories will race 22‑person dragon boats, while the Open and Public categories will race 12‑person boats. In addition to the 200‑meter straight race, the Elite and Open categories will also compete in a 100‑meter straight sprint.

A stand‑up paddleboard (SUP) waterfront parade along Suzhou Creek will be held concurrently with the event, taking place in the river sections near Tian An 1000 Trees, Suzhou Creek Lily Bridge, and the east side of Mengqing Garden.

Citizens can visit the Mengqing Garden (88 Yichang Road, Putuo District) on June 13 (Saturday) to obtain limited admission tickets at Gate 2 and enter the park to watch the first day of the races.