Hong Kong’s Stanley beach welcomes back annual dragon boat race after 2-year pandemic hiatus
- This year’s event less packed because of pandemic control measures, but revellers are undeterred from soaking up sun, sand and sea
- From 8am to 2pm, 33 teams comprising about 700 rowers will compete in 30 rounds
Dragon boat racing returned to scenic Stanley and Tai O in Hong Kong on Friday for the first time in two years amid the coronavirus pandemic as hundreds of rowers and revellers flocked to the beach to soak in the festivities under the sweltering heat.
The glaring sun and a temperature of more than 30 degrees Celsius did not deter some 700 dragon boat enthusiasts from competing in the event, which kicked off at Stanley Main Beach at 8am.
Apart from Stanley, another place on Friday hosting Dragon Boat Festival events was Tai O on Lantau Island, where a century-old water parade ritual was held in tandem with races.
Tai O Rural Committee chairman Ho Siu-kei said about 1,000 people lined up along the esplanade of the Tai O typhoon shelter starting from 11am.
“We are so grateful that we are able to hold the water parade and the race again, weather is good, and visitors and locals have a great time,” he told the Post.
At Stanley, participants rotated in various rounds of the competition as teammates onshore cheered, while others waded in the waters to prepare for their turn.
“It’s nice to be back racing again after so long. The last two years have been a bit strange,” said toxicologist James Wakefield, 42, from the Loreley Dragon Boat Team who has been joining the annual race for eight years. “Obviously it’s nothing like the one in 2019, the last time we were able to have a big corporate race.”