From the lush green breezes sweeping across the lotus ponds to the dragon boats slicing through the waters of the Haohe River, from joyful gatherings of neighbors celebrating Dragon Boat Festival to children playing with bubbles in the park — these vibrant scenes and lively moments capture the essence of midsummer in Nantong, Jiangsu province.

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Yangtze River Delta Haohe River Dragon Boat Invitational takes place in Nantong on June 20, featuring a water flying performance that attracted a large audience. [Photo provided by Qu Dejun to en.nantong.gov.cn]