Chinese and Australian students paddle together in a mixed dragon boat team on the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, Jiangsu. [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

The inaugural Sino-Australian Youth Rowing and Dragon Boat Friendship Race, held in Nanjing in September, brought together around 210 students from 14 universities in both countries. One of its most distinctive features was the mixed teams, which placed Chinese and Australian students in the same boat.

Six students from Nanjing Medical University joined students from the University of Adelaide to form a dragon boat team named Gold Coast. At first, language differences and different paddling habits made it difficult to find a shared rhythm. But as the race progressed, teammates encouraged one another and adjusted their movements until their paddles moved in unison.

After the competition, the students sat along the Qinhuai River, chatting about university life, training and the cities they call home.

For Xue Yanwei, a member of the women's rowing team at Nanjing Normal University, the most memorable moment came after the mixed-team race. Having just crossed the finish line together, Chinese and Australian teammates exchanged team jerseys and promised to meet again at future competitions.

"Competition brought us together, but working together helped us get to know each other," she said. "Sport has a natural ability to break down barriers."

The connections continued beyond the water. At Changzhou University's School of Robotics Industry, Australian students from the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney joined their Chinese peers to operate smart vehicles and explore intelligent manufacturing.

For another group of 40 students from the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales, a visit to Jiangsu University offered a different kind of exchange. After trying their hand at paper-cutting, they visited the historic Xijin Ferry and sampled a local bowl of pot-cover noodles. For many, Chinese culture that had once seemed distant suddenly felt close and tangible.

The exchange is set to continue. On Nov 20, another group of Australian students and teachers will arrive in Nanjing for a summer school program. The first group of 116 participants will explore low-carbon development and urban renewal, opening another chapter in the growing connections between young people in China and Australia.