On the water in Qintong town, Jiangyan district, Li Sangrao from Spain stood shoulder to shoulder with local pole boaters, training hard for the Qintong Boat Festival set to take place on April 6 this year.
This marks the first time that the festival, the world's largest water temple fair, has included an international participant.
Li Sangrao from Spain trains with local boatmen in Jiangyan district. [Photo/WeChat account: jyrmzf]
Starting from scratch, Li learned how to hold the pole, find the right rhythm, and follow the gong signals. Hours of standing and poling left his arms sore and his palms red, but he never complained or fell behind. By the end of his first day, he had already picked up the basic skills.
His coach, Tian Zhangyu, patiently taught him the techniques and offered advice, helping Li master every move step by step. After two full days of training, Li's stiff movements were smooth, and he was able to maintain the poling pace set by his teammates.
"We hope that through Li, more foreign friends will learn about the Qintong Boat Festival and possibly even participate in the traditional pole boat race," Tian said.
Li Sangrao tires morning tea. [Photo/WeChat account: jyrmzf]
When he wasn't training, Li explored local customs, tried the traditional morning tea, and listened to stories about the history of the boat festival.
He said he was deeply impressed by the beautiful waterside scenery and took many photos and videos to share on his social media.
What moved him most was the team spirit and determination embodied in the boat race. He said he hopes to bring this unique experience back home and introduce more people around the world to this traditional Chinese sport.