On May 17th, 2025, the "Lushan Cup" Yangtze River Economic Belt Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament kicked off at Caijia Lake in Bailihu New District, JiangXi Jiujiang.A total of 40 dragon boat teams from provinces and cities along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, within Jiangxi Province, and various counties (cities and districts) of Jiujiang participated in the event. "Fighting! Fighting!" As the vigorous drumbeats and the cheers from the spectators on the shore resounded, the competition officially began. The dragon boats, like arrows leaving the bowstring, sped across the lake. The paddlers moved their oars in unison, their powerful and vigorous movements splashing layers of white water. The teams competed fiercely on the water, with intense competition. According to the reporter, the event lasted for two days and was divided into two groups: the local group and the open group. The events included the 200-meter straight race and the 500-meter straight race.

Jiujiang's Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Committee and Mayor Jiang Wending said at the opening ceremony of the event that dragon boat racing is not only a sports feast for physical fitness but also a thousand-year-old inheritance of Chinese civilization. Sharing the same river water and traveling together on the same boat, the 40 dragon boat teams from the Yangtze River Economic Belt and within Jiangxi Province gathered here to compete, which is not only a profound interpretation of the spirit of working together but also a vivid practice of regional coordinated development. "We sincerely hope that all the sister cities will join hands to promote the common development of sports, cultural tourism, industry integration, and ecological governance, and jointly paint a magnificent picture of 'hand-in-hand development and win-win cooperation' in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Jiang Wending said. On that day, foreign internet celebrities participating in the "Discover JiangXi" event in Bailihu also came to the competition site to watch the event. Qiao Anan, a member of the event from Madagascar, was very excited after watching the dragon boat race and told the reporter, "This is my first time watching a dragon boat race in China. I think it's very exciting. I kept shouting to cheer for the participants. Chinese traditional culture is really interesting."

The event was guided by the Chinese Dragon Boat Association and hosted by the Jiangxi Provincial Sports Bureau and the Jiujiang Municipal Government. It was jointly organized by the Jiangxi Provincial Dragon Boat Association, the Jiujiang Municipal Sports Bureau, and the Bailihu New District Management Committee. (Liu Lixin, Wu Siyu, Hu Yangyang)