About 60 paddlers gathered for a dragon boat race to celebrate the traditional Chinese holiday.

FLORENCE, Italy, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Against the backdrop of Florence's Renaissance skyline, the rhythmic beat of drums from three dragon boats racing in the Arno River drew crowds along the banks, marking a vibrant celebration of the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.

Organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Florence, with support from several other Confucius Institutes across Italy and San Marino, the event gathered some 60 paddlers on Saturday. The boats were painted in green, white and red to reflect the colors of the Italian flag.

Participants came from various cities, including Rome, Padua and Florence, forming a mix of Chinese students, Italian youth, and local boating enthusiasts. "This year's event has seen record participation and attention," said Silvia Scaramuzzi, Italian director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Florence. "It's not just a sport -- it's about young people from two cultures paddling together, literally and figuratively. That is the heart of cultural understanding."

Winning the race required seamless teamwork in each boat. But to fully appreciate the festival, a grasp of deep-rooted cultural stories -- like that of Qu Yuan -- added another layer of meaning.

"This is more than just a competition," said Cirillo Ruggero, a high school student from Rome and a Mandarin learner at the Confucius Institute. "We are here to remember people like Qu Yuan, whose loyalty and patriotism continue to inspire."

According to a Chinese legend, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet of ancient China, whose death in the Miluo River inspired villagers to race out in boats to search for him and throw rice into the water to keep fish from his body.

Just hours before the race, Ruggero had won the first prize in the regional final of the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for secondary school students in Italy and San Marino. Fluent in Chinese, he said events like the dragon boat race offer "an invaluable chance for cultural exchange."

In addition to the race, festivalgoers enjoyed traditional zongzi -- glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves-- and exchanging handcrafted herbal sachets, which were handed out to paddlers and spectators.

As the dragon boats cut through the gentle current of the Arno, crowds lining the riverbanks cheered them on. Locals and tourists paused to take photos, surrounded by the aroma of zongzi in the air. For many, it was their first close encounter with this centuries-old Chinese tradition.

"Watching the race made me feel curious and excited," said Claudio, a retired Florentine resident who had never seen a dragon boat race before. "It made me want to learn more about Chinese culture - especially the story of Qu Yuan and what this festival means."

The Dragon Boat Festival is gaining popularity in Italy, with more cities hosting similar events in recent years. Chinese Consul General in Florence Yin Qi said he hoped cultural exchanges like this would deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Italian peoples.

As the race came to a close, participants exchanged smiles, high-fives, and warm embraces, celebrating not only victory but shared joy. For young Italians and Chinese paddlers who worked side by side, the spirit of the Dragon Boat Festival is charting a course of unity across both rivers and cultures.