By CGTN's Hu Chao

The final of a dragon boat racing competition was held on Sunday in Xihu Lake in Qinxian County, north China’s Shanxi Province.

The race kicked off on Friday in celebration of the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival – one of the most important celebrations in China.

 Qinxian County holds dragon boat racing competitions every year. /CGTN Photo

Twenty teams comprised of 400 Chinese rowers from all walks of life, including local civil servants, took part in the race. 

Chinese rowers came from all walks of life. /CGTN Photo

Despite being located on the Chinese Loess Plateau – an arid region with little to no rainfall – Qinxian County is an exception, holding rich water reserves and resources thanks to the many lakes and rivers in the area.

Dragon boat races have been held there every year since 2009.

Many rowers say the key to winning the competition is team work. /CGTN Photo

Another way to mark the Dragon Boat Festival is by wrapping Zongzi, a kind of traditional sticky rice dumplings. But the Zongzi in Qinxian County are different from other dumplings in China as their filling includes a special type of locally-grown yellow millet.

Zongzis in Qinxian County have special fillings made from local yellow millet. /CGTN Photo

Dragon boat races and Zongzi wrappings are among many cultural events held in Qinxian County during the Dragon Boat Festival. The county has been making efforts to improve its ecological environment in recent years. During last year's Dragon Boat Festival, it welcomed 400,000 visitors who spent over 50 million yuan (around 7.3 million US dollars).