Egypt's Nile River hosted Saturday a second round of a new dragon boat race as part of the Chinese Spring Festival. Teams from Egypt, China, the US, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, the Phillipines, Australia and Portugal participated in the ancient race, which originates 2,500 years ago on the banks of the Chinese Yangtze River.
The competition was organised by the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association chaired by Ehab Gouda in Royal Mohamed Ali Club on the banks of the Nile.
In an ancient tradition called "Awakening the Dragon," the cultural adviser of the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and competition's organiser, Shi Yuewen, along with Han Bing, the Chinese commissioned official for economy and trade in the Chinese Embassy, and a Daoist priest painted dragon eyes to start the race.
The race ended with Egypt winning first place in the men's race, and the Philippines winning first place in the women's and mixed teams.
