On June 14, the 47th Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival was held along the Charles River in Boston. Consul General Chen Li attended the event with his wife and delivered remarks. He also joined other distinguished guests in the traditional eye-dotting ceremony for the dragon boats.

Massachusetts State Senator Will Brownsberger, Director Maisie Ho of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York, and Leslie Swartz, Co-Founder of the Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, were among the guests who attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks.

In his speech, Consul General Chen noted that dragon boat racing originated in China and embodies the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and striving for excellence. Today, it has become a widely popular international sport enjoyed by people around the world. People from different countries, ethnic backgrounds, and cultures come together through dragon boat racing and build friendships through competition, demonstrating the important role of sports in promoting exchanges and mutual understanding.

During the festival, the China National Tourist Office in New York hosted a “Nihao! China” promotional booth. This year’s festival attracted more than 60,000 spectators and participants, further highlighting the broad appeal and influence of Chinese culture in the United States.