Several expats interested in traditional Chinese customs compete in the Shushan Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament on June 12. [Photo/WeChat account: snd-szgxqfb]
More than 200 people from 10 teams competed in the Shushan Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament in Tong'an town, Suzhou New District on June 12.
The Suzhou Industrial Park Institute of Services Outsourcing team, the Suzhou Longjiang team, and the Suzhou Shanshui Tianyuan team claimed the first, second, and third-place prizes respectively.
While most of the participants were new to the competition, they had a strong sense of cooperation and exhibited good racing skills. The traditional event held in celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival also attracted several expats.
For the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, overcoming disease, avoiding disasters and wishing for good health are the core ideas.
In addition to racing dragon boats, people also hang sweet sage and wormwood on their front doors, drink realgar wine, as well as make pouches filled with herbs as customs to battle and overcome evil spirits.
