At the sound of the starting signal, the athletes in four colorful dragon boats at Salford Quays near Manchester shot ahead and paddled mightily to the exhilarating beat of drums, watched and cheered on by crowds on the bank.
The boat race and the performances were the highlights of the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, organized by the Xinhua Chinese Association, on Sunday.
Launched in 2012, the festival has grown to be one of the biggest of its kind in Europe.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
