The 2012 China (Yichang) Dragon Boat Competition is to kick off at the Xujiachong Section of the Yangtze River in Zigui County, Yichang on June 19, and will last till June 23. According to the schedule, 18 teams across all regions will participate in the competition.

The race is hosted by Leisure Sports Administrative Center of the State General Administration of Sports, Chinese Dragon Boat Association, Hubei Provincial Administrative Bureau of Sports and the People’s Government of Yichang City, organized by Yichang Municipal Bureau of Physical Cultural Administration and the People’s Government of Zigui County. The competition includes the races of 23-member 200m (open), Straight-speed 500m (open) and Round 5000m (open). For the purpose of maintaining the traditional elements of the dragon boat races, each team is required to resume arrangement of a gong (a traditional Chinese musical instrument) player in the middle of the dragon boat, as is a traditional rule that was canceled in the international dragon boat races around 10 years ago.

The China Dragon Boat Competition have been planned to be held in five more cities besides Yichang, such as Wujin in Jiangsu Province, Jintang in Sichuan Province, Yongchuan in Chongqing Municipality, Chengmai in Hainan Province and Kunshan in Jiangsu Province.