The Wanning Finals of the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Rural Dragon Boat Series concluded on Oct. 4 after two days of competition. A total of 38 teams and 872 athletes from 27 countries and regions took part in the finals, held at Gangbei Port in Wanning during China's National Day holiday.
The finals drew nearly 40,000 on-site spectators and more than 260,000 online viewers in China and overseas, according to organizers. Events included men's, mixed and special invitational categories. The first competition day was held on Oct. 3, with the finals and closing events taking place on Oct. 4.
The tournament began on Aug. 8 in Chengmai and lasted nearly two months. It consisted of six stage races plus one final. The stage races were held in Chengmai, Lingshui, Sanya, Ledong, Lingao and Haikou, followed by the finals in Wanning, covering seven cities and counties in Hainan.
Organizers said the event focused on rural characteristics and combined traditional dragon boat culture, grassroots sports, rural life and cultural tourism. It also helped promote the long-standing dragon boat tradition in coastal villages in southern China, they said.
The international invitational category drew several overseas teams. The Manila Dragon Boat Team from the Philippines finished third in the category. Jimmy Hembra, the team's steersman, said he was grateful for the invitation, adding that the event provided a platform for international athletes to communicate and learn from each other. He said he was impressed by Hainan's scenery and the atmosphere of the folk sports event.
Organizers said the event used dragon boat culture as a platform to promote sports exchanges across languages and regions. They said it helped carry forward traditional Chinese folk culture and presented Hainan Free Trade Port as open and inclusive to the world.