Dragonboat Racing

Dragonboat Festival participants and performers. Courtesy of Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce.

Traditional dragonboat racing draws Asians and non-Asians

Preserving [culture] is not saying that you keep it to yourself. It means you share it with others. That's really the key, to share. By sharing it, you preserve it. You preserve it through a bigger context. That's what it's all about.

- John Chen

Dragon boat racing has become the highlight of Charlotte's Asian Festival. The sport, rooted in Chinese history, is now a way to build teamwork across the many Asian cultures in America — and to involve other cultures as well.

In Charlotte, dragon boat teams include Asians and non-Asians. Local businesses and community groups enjoy competing alongside teams from across the U.S. in the high-energy event.

The festival invites both Asians and non-Asians to experience a broad diversity of Asian community music, dance and food traditions.