A lively dragon boat race that attracted many Chinese and foreign participants was held at Longqi Lake in Dongying City of east China's Shandong Province during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday running from Saturday to Monday.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival in Chinese, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls on June 10 this year.

The competition has attracted nearly 500 racers from 28 teams across nine provinces and regions along the Yellow River. Among the competitors, a team of 12 overseas students attracted many spectators.

For some of them, it was their first time to experience the excitement of such a group game.

"Today was my first time to row a dragon boat. I think rowing with rhythm is very important. I have to pay attention to the beat of drum and row along with it. We need to unite and have tacit understanding," said an overseas student from Uzbekistan.

Apart from the fierce racing, stalls by the riverside also offer a wide range of sachets, traditional fans, and willow weaving handicrafts for racers and spectators.