Annual Schools’ Dragon Boat Race a huge success

After a two-year break, eight Merseyside region schools took part in the Liverpool Confucius Institute’s CI Annual Schools’ Dragon Boat Race, hosted by University of Liverpool’s Confucius Institute (LCI) and 4 Dragons Ltd, at Liverpool Watersports Centre at Queens Dock, Liverpool.  

Under bright blue sunny skies, to the sound of traditional Chinese music, there was a real air of camaraderie with teachers, parents/guardians and LCI staff cheered all the teams on. 

Dr Penny Ding, deputy director (UK), University of Liverpool Confucius Institute, said: “The event really engaged students positively and created a real sense of teamwork and focus. One teacher mentioned that some of their students had never been out of school for a trip and they were very excited to be able to give them this opportunity.  

“The Dragon Boat Race event gave them an opportunity to learn to focus, enhance their listening skills and work as a team with a shared goal. For some of the more experienced students, this was an opportunity to really shine.  

“Everyone involved gained something from the day and although there were bronze, silver and gold winners, everyone involved is a winner.” 

Dragon Boat festivals date back for more than 2200 years and it is celebrated by Chinese and other communities worldwide annually, as poets’ day in honour of Qu Yuan, who is widely recognised as China’s first poet. 

Congratulations went to Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy who won gold on the day with Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School winning silver and Liverpool College winning bronze 

Some of the highlights on the day included The St Francis of Assisi Academy racing and beating a staff team from the school and The Academy of St Nicholas who shaved a minute off their best time. 

The LCI is a positive space to engage with and learn about Chinese culture.  

Beginning in 2009, the Liverpool Confucius Institute (LCI) is a collaborative project between the University of Liverpool (UoL), Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) and the Chinese International Education Foundation. The LCI is committed to working with UoL, XJTU, local Liverpool and Merseyside councils, cultural organisations, schools and the public for the promotion of Chinese language and culture. 

There are lots of opportunities to get involved with the Liverpool Confucius Institute (LCI) learning Mandarin, calligraphy, Chinese painting, paper crafting and being inspired by Chinese dance, music and more.