Participants compete in a dragon boat race on the Haohe River in Nantong on June 2. [Photo/IC]

The 2019 Nantong international dragon boat race was held in the Haohe River scenic area in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, on June 2. 

The race is one of nine special activities for the 2019 China Forest Tour Festival, which will be held in Nantong in October.

A total of 20 teams, 11 from Nantong and nine from a variety of other provinces, regions, and countries, including South China’s Fujian province, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Bangladesh, took part in the event. 

The male and female teams from the Nantong Shipping College both won in their respective categories. 

This year’s Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 7, coinciding with the gaokao, or the national college entrance exam, which will take place on June 7 and 8. Thus, organizers have decided to move the race up to provide a more quiet environment for gaokao examinees.