Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival Starts in Pokhara, NepalThursday, July 6th, 2023

The Nepal China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival was inaugurated at Phewa Lake in Pokhara today i.e. June 23, 2023. Humble Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati and His Excellency Ambassador of China to Nepal Chen Song inaugurated the Festival jointly organized by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Embassy of China in Nepal, and Pokhara Metropolitan City. Mayor of Pokhara Mr. Dhanraj Acharya and CEO of NTB Dr. Dhananjay Regmi were also at the program that had audience from the Government and tourism sector of Pokhara and Kathmandu, Chinese delegates and Embassy representatives, tourists and locals, and the media.

Four teams won at the pre qualifying rounds of 200 m and 500 m on June 23. The winning teams NARA, Pokhara Metropolitan City, Sichuan, Yunan will be competing for the first position on June 24.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Hon’ble Tourism Minister Kirati said the program paved way to enrich the warm cultural relations enjoyed by the two countries. He also said that such programs would help create new milestones in the friendship and diplomatic ties between Nepal and China.

Similarly, HE Ambassador Song expressed that the event would help in furthering the age-old socio-economic and people-to-people ties between Nepal in China. He was positive that the event would be also be instrumental in promotion of Nepal all over China.

CEO of NTB Dr. Regmi appreciated the support of the Embassy of China to organize the event of such international importance in Pokhara. He said the event showcased a new product in the lake city of Pokhara and would help in increasing arrivals to Pokhara from all over the world.

Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan Mr. Acharya said that continuation of the event on annual basis as a new product would be the best way forward for Pokhara’s tourism.

Eight teams are participated in the race on the first day with four from Nepal and four from China. Boat racers include representatives from all provinces of Nepal and 60 professionals from China. Boats were especially crafted in China arriving in Nepal through the Kerung border and reached Pokhara in early May. During the same time participants had also reached Pokhara and had started training on Phewa Lake. 

The event is the first of its kind in Nepal adding new impetus to the growing interest of international travel industry in Pokhara. Pokhara is a very popular destination among Chinese visitors and some Chinese tourist guidebooks even list Pokhara as one of the “top ten places in the world to see”.

The event was formalized through an official agreement between Nepal Tourism Board, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and Pokhara Metropolitan City, on May 4, 2023.

Earlier on June 22, chartered flight of Sichuan Airlines flew to the Pokhara International Airport directly with 84 delegates including VIPs from China, as a part of the program. The event is expected to be a milestone in highlighting Pokhara globally as a world-class premier holiday destination.  The event is co organized by Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC), Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA), Rafting and Canoeing Association (RCAR) and Overseas Chinese Association of Pokhara.

Dragon boat festival originated in China and its history goes back to more than 2,000 years. The dragon boat festival, also known as Duanyang Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Double Five Festival, Tianzhong Festival, etc., is a folk festival that integrates worship of gods and ancestors, praying for good luck and warding off evil spirits, celebrating entertainment and eating.

The dragon boat festival has now become a worldwide cultural phenomenon and has been widely celebrated in more than 50 countries and regions loved by local populations and the festival attracts extensive attention from people around the world. The dragon boat race has also made its way to international sports games. It became an official event of the Asian Games in 2010 and was performed for the first time in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

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