Cape Town received on Saturday (25) the 3rd edition of the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese celebration that enchanted residents and tourists at V&A Waterfront. With exciting dragon boat races, handwriting workshops, cooking, traditional medicine and tea ceremony, the event served as a bridge between crops and reinforced the ties between China and South Africa.
The main race, with 13 teams competing at the feet of the iconic mountain of the table, was closely monitored by China’s consul General in the city, You Wenze, and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who even played drum in one of the disputes. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring cultures closer and promote mutual understanding,” said the mayor.
Dong Gang, one of the organizers and leader of the local Chinese community, highlighted the growth of the festival and its importance as a cultural exchange platform. According to him, the event is a source of pride for the Chinese abroad for keeping a tradition of more than two thousand years in African soil alive.
The president of the Cape Town Dragon Boat Association, Igsaan Salie, celebrated the increase of the public. “We started with about 120 people and today we are almost 200. It is a visually impressive, authentic event with a wonderful answer of all,” he said
Source: https://www.chinahoje.net/festival-do-barco-do-dragao-reune-centenas-em-celebracao-cultural-na-cidade-do-cabo/
