Competitors showcased creativity by dressing as legendary Chinese mythological characters, including Nezha and the Monkey King, on the final day of the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races to promote both competitive spirit and traditional dragon boat culture.

Despite the scorching midday heat, athletes remained determined to compete for glory, with many participating in the Fancy Dress Contest in elaborate costumes.

Benny, a first-time participant dressed as an Egyptian pharaoh, explained that the symbol represented “miracle,” expressing hope for an outstanding performance.

Another competitor, Mr. Wong, who dressed as the Monkey King, shared that his team had prepared for three to four months. While aiming for a strong finish, he stressed: “The most important thing is for everyone to have fun and enjoy themselves.”

Mr. Yip, dressed as Ji Gong — a folkloric monk known for helping the poor and standing up to injustice — emphasized the cultural significance of the costumes and dragon boat racing, hoping their eye-catching outfits would draw more spectators.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based team Spanish Dragons continued last year’s Barbie-themed costume tradition with cross-gender flair.

Their male crew members of various nationalities dressed as popular anime characters including Tsukino Usagi (Sailor Moon) and Makoto Kino (Sailor Jupiter), drawing crowds of spectators eager to take photos with them.

The two-day competition took place at Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade, featuring over 190 teams and 4,500 local and international participants from mainland China, Qatar, Egypt and other traditional dragon boat racing nations.

The MTR Dragon Boat Team won first place in this year’s Fancy Dress Competition, with Shatin Baptist Church securing second and the“How to Train Your Dragon”team rounding out the top three.

Meanwhile, as an award presenter, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui remarked that the excellent weather contributed to an enjoyable atmosphere for both residents and tourists.

She expressed particular enthusiasm about the return of the Disciplinary Forces Championship, noting it brought back memories of her last participation in 2012.

Law said she was delighted to share the podium with winning teams from the fire services, customs and police departments during the award ceremony.

(Cheng Wong)
(Updated at 9.08pm)

Sailor Moon, Chinese mythical figures at HK intl dragon boat races