"Boom, boom, boom..." On the morning of May 25, the 10th Lu'an Dragon Boat Race officially commenced in the waters of Moon Island, accompanied by a series of powerful drumbeats.

With the resounding drums and the racing boats, the atmosphere was electrifying. At the referee's signal, the competitors swiftly paddled in time with the drumbeats. The brightly colored dragon boats shot forward like arrows, cutting through the waves and leaving strong wakes behind. The excitement of the event instantly ignited the crowd.

As a traditional water sport in China, dragon boat racing carries a rich cultural heritage and embodies the spirit of unity, coordination, and striving for excellence. It has long been beloved by the people. This year's race featured 16 teams from various counties and districts, municipal departments, colleges, streets, schools, and enterprises across the city. The competition followed the latest "Dragon Boat Racing Rules" approved by the General Administration of Sport of China, with rankings based on the combined results of each team's 200-meter and 500-meter straight race times. After intense competition, the dragon boat team from West Anhui University claimed the championship, while teams from Lu'an Vocational and Technical College and Huoqiu County took second place.

On the water, competitors gave their all, racing neck and neck; on the shore, spectators' cheers rose and fell, creating a lively scene.

"We came here early in the morning to cheer for our classmates. This is my first time watching a dragon boat race live, and it's an amazing experience. I've noticed that some teams have a great sense of rhythm and are very fast," said Bian Yaoshuai, a sophomore from Lu'an Experimental High School, excitedly sharing his impressions.

At the event, the reporter observed that many families came together to enjoy the race. Zhang Yilan, a local resident, watched the competition while telling her children about the history of dragon boat racing. "I saw a post on Douyin last night about today's race, so we came early this morning to watch. I'm very grateful to Lu'an for hosting this dragon boat race. It has broadened our horizons, and the atmosphere is truly impressive. The athletes' performances are outstanding."

To promote the integrated development of business, culture, and tourism, and to enrich the sports consumption scene, create consumption opportunities, and unleash consumption potential, the 10th Lu'an Dragon Boat Race and Beer and Crayfish Consumption Season used the dragon boat event as a platform to transform "event traffic" into "consumption growth." The event also featured various cultural performances, interactive activities, local specialty exhibitions, and food tastings at the main venue on Moon Island and Hexi Square. "The organization of this event is excellent. We've had a great time watching, participating, and enjoying the food..." Many citizens praised the event's success through their immersive participation and experiences.

With hundreds of boats competing and thousands of sails advancing, Lu'an is navigating towards a promising future. Each spectacular dragon boat race showcases the city's political, economic, and cultural development, as well as the flourishing of public sports. Unconsciously, the dragon boat race has already become a vibrant cultural emblem of waterfront Lu'an.