The fourth Luxembourg International Dragon Boat Festival was held on June 7 along the Moselle River in Remich, Luxembourg, bringing together 17 teams from sectors including finance, logistics, aviation, technology, academia and Chinese enterprises operating in Europe.
The event attracted more than 10,000 local residents and visitors from neighboring countries, highlighting the growing appeal of dragon boat culture and people-to-people exchanges between China and Europe.
Co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Luxembourg, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the China Cultural Center in Luxembourg, the Euroasie Schengen International Group, and the municipalities of Remich, Schengen, Mondorf-les-Bains and Perl in Germany, the festival combined dragon boat racing with traditional Chinese cultural showcases, a music carnival, cultural and food markets, tourism promotion activities and technology interactions.
During the opening ceremony, representatives from the political and cultural sectors from both China and Luxembourg praised the festival's role in promoting cultural exchanges and strengthening mutual understanding.
Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg Hua Ning said that after four years of development, the festival has become an important platform for cultural, sports and tourism exchanges among China, Luxembourg and other European countries. He noted that this year's event set a new record for participation and highlighted the core values of teamwork, fair competition and inclusiveness embodied by dragon boat racing.
During the competition, 17 teams competed fiercely on the Moselle River. Cargolux Airlines International won both the championship title and the Fastest Speed Award, while the Confucius Institute at the University of Luxembourg finished second and China Merchants Bank secured third place.
Beyond the races, visitors enjoyed a full-day music carnival featuring traditional Chinese folk music, martial arts performances, international bands and DJ sets. The cultural market showcased the "Tea for Harmony: Jiangsu Elegance" cultural program, creative products and winter tourism promotions from China. A wide variety of Chinese, Asian and local foods also offered visitors a rich cultural and culinary experience.
Technology was another highlight of this year's festival. Chinese intelligent robots made their debut at the event, attracting large crowds through live demonstrations and interactive experiences that showcased China's latest technological innovations.
Large LED screens at the venue also broadcast tourism promotional videos, including the "Nihao! China" inbound tourism campaign and tourism presentations from several Chinese cities, helping international audiences gain a deeper understanding of China's cultural and tourism resources.
Since its launch in 2023, the Luxembourg International Dragon Boat Festival has grown into a well-recognized international cultural and sporting event. Serving as a bridge for exchanges between China, Luxembourg and the broader European region, the festival continues to promote mutual learning among civilizations and strengthen people-to-people ties through the shared spirit of dragon boat culture.
