Chen Siqi vankochensq@163.com THE 22nd Greater Bay Area (Nan’ao, Shenzhen) Maritime Dragon Boat Race — Shenzhen’s only maritime dragon boat race — kicked off in Moon Bay, Nan’ao, Dapeng New Area, on Friday, the day before the Dragon Boat Festival. The two-day competition, which drew both seasoned veterans and enthusiastic newcomers, saw a total of 29 teams compete fiercely on 500-meter courses. On the first day, 11 teams battled intensely through two grueling rounds. Spurred by pounding drums, racers pulled their paddles in unison and chanted rhythmically to match the pace. Among the teams, one caught the audience’s eye — a team from Huizhou composed entirely of women. “It’s our third time here,” said Yan Sumin, drummer of the Huizhou Women’s Dragon Boat Team. “We are a group of housewives who came together because of our shared interest.” Setting off around 5 a.m. and arriving in Nan’ao by 6 a.m., the women were fully prepared and raced with determination. “Taking part in the dragon boat races helps us exercise and brings us closer,” Yan added. In dragon boat racing, drummers are the heart and leaders of the team — they set the paddling rhythm with clear, strong beats. “When you drum to encourage your teammates, your beat has to be clear and strong,” explained Yan. For Lei Yiyuan, team leader of the Macao Tianhong Youth Dragon Boat Team, the event was thrilling. “With the strong wind and big waves, this year’s race was much tougher than last year’s, but it was great. We enjoyed it,” said Lei. “We are a team made up of dragon dance performers, and this is our third time here. Even though we can’t match the skills of professional teams, practicing dragon boat racing helps us stay fit and allows us to carry on traditional culture,” added Lei. | 