During the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday, Shanxi province emerged as one of China's top destinations for dragon boat event-themed tours, thanks to the successful dragon boat races held on the Fenhe River on June 19. 

According to Tongcheng Travel, Shanxi ranked sixth among popular national destinations. Taiyuan, the host city for the representative event, attracted a large number of tourists from both within and outside the province.

Teams from across the country compete on the Fenhe River. [Photo/Shanxi News Network]

The 2026 China Dragon Boat Open (Shanxi·Taiyuan) and the Taiyuan Fenhe River Dragon Boat Open commenced at Taiyuan Aquatic Sports Center on June 19. Teams from across the country competed, offering visitors a spectacular water sports event.

During the competition, Taiyuan launched special Dragon Boat Festival travel routes. Attractions like Jinci Temple, Mengshan Mountain, and Taiyuan Ancient County hosted traditional cultural activities such as sachet making and colorful rope weaving, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in the cultural charm of the festival.

"The atmosphere was fantastic!" exclaimed Wang Xin, a visitor from Beijing who traveled with family specifically for the dragon boat races, noting that the experience exceeded all expectations. Many out-of-province visitors praised Taiyuan's cool climate and beautiful cityscape.

The Taiyuan Fenhe River Dragon Boat Open has been held for several years. It has become a hallmark of Taiyuan, promoting the deep integration of sports and cultural tourism, and injecting new vitality into local development.