Dragon boat racing boosts intl exchanges(2)

In recent years, the Dragon Boat Festival has grown into a global celebration, with dragon boat races are now held in more than 70 countries and regions around the world each year.

Stuart's passion for the dragon boat races is shared by Khvorostianyi, a regular participant of dragon boat races in China.

"My teams have taken part in lots of races held across China, from Heilongjiang and Jilin to Jiangsu and Tianjin," said Khvorostianyi, who trains two dragon boat teams in Russia.

"We usually train twice a week, but we will have seven training sessions a week if there is a competition coming," he added.

Rong Xiaoning, head of Guangxi's regional administration of sport, said that the dragon boat races are aimed not only to protect the cultural heritage, but also to enhance international exchanges.

"The races provide an opportunity for foreign friends to better understand the traditional Chinese culture, which boasts thousands of years of history," he said.