Драконовите лодки официално станаха част и от българската култура

В Китайския културен център в София кметицата на община Панчарево, г-жа Евгения Алексиева, бе официално удостоена с плакет на „Базата на културното наследство на Драконовите лодки и Културното изложение на Драконовите лодки“. На церемонията присъстваха редица високопоставени гости от страната и чужбина.
Традицията се спазва вече повече от хиляда години. Хората се подготвят цяла година, за да участват в състезанието.
Провеждането на фестивала на Драконовите лодки бележи нов етап в развитието на българо-китайските отношения.
Цялата информация можете да прочетете на английски език.


On the afternoon of October 28 (local time), at the China Cultural Center in Sofia, Mr. Xu Yan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Ningbo Municipal Party Committee and Vice Mayor, presented the plaque for the "Dragon Boat Culture Heritage Base and Dragon Boat Cultural Exhibition" to Ms. Evgeniya Alexieva, Mayor of Pancharevo District. This ceremony, attended by Mr. Kong Lingyu, Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria; Mr. Konstantin Botev, Head of the International Exhibition Department of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency; Mr. Andriyan Petrov, Deputy Governor of Smolyan District; Mr. Alexey Ksyakov, Mayor of Chelopech; as well as representatives from the Chinese Embassy, various Bulgarian municipalities, governmental departments, and associations, signifies the official rooting of Chinese dragon boat culture in Bulgaria and marks a new phase in China-Bulgaria cultural exchange through dragon boat traditions.
Chinese dragon boat culture boasts an extensive history, symbolized by a bronze axe with feathered boatmen from the Warring States period unearthed in Yinzhou, which serves as a testament to its profound heritage. According to the Yinxian County Chronicles, dragon boats have been present in Yinzhou for over a thousand years, reaching their peak popularity during the Song dynasty when dragon boat races were held regularly for the Duanwu (Dragon Boat) and Mid-Autumn Festivals. During the Southern Song dynasty, Chancellor Shi Hao formalized the custom of viewing dragon boats on the 16th day of the eighth lunar month.
As China’s "Hometown of Dragon Boat Culture," Yinzhou not only has a longstanding history of dragon boat racing, but the pioneering and competitive spirit embodied in dragon boat races has also become a core feature of the region’s cultural identity. The establishment of the Dragon Boat Culture Heritage Base and Dragon Boat Cultural Exhibition at the China Cultural Center in Sofia is a collaborative effort between China and Bulgaria to promote Chinese dragon boat culture globally and expand the reach of dragon boat sports. This platform aims to strengthen cultural ties between Yinzhou and Bulgaria and facilitate broader economic and trade cooperation between the two regions.
The exhibition utilizes images, artifacts, and multimedia across three sections – "The Origins of Dragon Boats," "Dragon Boat Cultural Customs," and "Dragon Boats: A Bridge of Friendship" – to highlight the brilliance of Chinese dragon boat culture and Yinzhou’s rich history as China’s "Hometown of Dragon Boat Culture," as well as its contemporary adaptations and innovations. This exhibition also showcases Ningbo's global vision, symbolized by its motto, “Books of the Past and Port of the World,” and reflects the deep friendship between China and Bulgaria.
The journey of Yinzhou’s dragon boats to Bulgaria began with a donation of four dragon boats last year. In February, a Ningbo delegation attended the “Pearls of the Canal: Charming Beijing and Ningbo” cultural and tourism promotion event in Sofia, where the cultural and tourism elements, especially the presentation on dragon boat culture from Yinzhou, captured significant interest from Bulgarian representatives. At that time, Bulgaria was preparing for a dragon boat festival but had only six boats available. Following the promotion event, Yinzhou donated four international-standard dragon boats, along with drums, seats, paddles, and other relevant equipment, addressing an urgent need. This marked the beginning of a special cultural connection between the two regions.
Since then, Bulgaria has successfully hosted two consecutive annual Dragon Boat Duanwu Festivals. In May of this year, a Bulgarian delegation attended a comprehensive training workshop in Yinzhou to learn about traditional Chinese dragon boat culture, gain foundational knowledge of dragon boat sports, and participate in the "China-Ningbo (Yinzhou) – Bulgaria-Ruse Dragon Boat Friendship Race" held in Yunlong Town. Subsequently, Shen Min, Member of the Standing Committee and Secretary of Yinzhou District, led a government delegation to visit Pancharevo District, during which the two sides reached a consensus on strengthening cultural and trade exchanges.
As the second country to establish diplomatic relations with New China and one of the earliest Central and Eastern European nations to sign an intergovernmental cooperation agreement under the Belt and Road Initiative, Bulgaria holds special significance this year as China and Bulgaria celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The establishment of the "Dragon Boat Culture Heritage Base and Dragon Boat Cultural Exhibition" at the China Cultural Center in Sofia is a meaningful milestone in this relationship. Ms. Evgeniya Alexieva, Mayor of Pancharevo District, expressed her hope that this new initiative would serve as a fresh starting point for deepened cultural exchanges between China and Bulgaria. She emphasized the importance of leveraging each side’s unique strengths, further exploring potential areas of cooperation, building additional platforms for exchange, and enhancing reciprocal visits to contribute even more to the flourishing China-Bulgaria bilateral relationship.