SATV Dec 26, Pokhara: A 129-member delegation from China, including competitors and representatives, arrived in Pokhara today aboard a chartered Sichuan Airlines flight. The team is set to participate in the Dragon Boat Race competition scheduled for December 29 and 30. The flight landed at Pokhara International Airport at 10:11 AM.
The event, aimed at promoting Nepal's tourism, is being jointly organized by the Gandaki Provincial Government, Pokhara Metropolitan City, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, and the Nepal Tourism Board. Supporting organizations include the Nepal Dragon Boat Association, Pokhara Tourism Council, and the Pokhara Overseas Chinese Association.
A grand welcome ceremony was held at the airport, attended by dignitaries such as Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Chen Song, Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, and representatives from the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Dragon Boat Association. Local residents joined the celebration with traditional music and dances, warmly greeting the arriving participants.
This year marks the second edition of the Dragon Boat Festival in Pokhara. A total of 20 teams—11 from Nepal, 8 from China, and 1 from Singapore—will compete in races covering 200-meter and 500-meter distances. According to the organizers, the winners of each distance will receive a cash prize of $5,000, while the runners-up and third-place teams will take home $2,000 and $1,200, respectively. Additionally, each of the remaining 17 teams will be awarded $500.
The first Dragon Boat Festival in Nepal was successfully held in 2023 under the leadership of the Chinese government. China has organized similar events in 50 countries worldwide. The festival is expected to strengthen ties between Nepal and China while bolstering Nepal's tourism industry.
