00:00Some may choose to spend the holiday relaxing, but for teams racing here today, it's the
00:04culmination of months of preparation and training—Taipei's annual Dragon Boat races.
00:10What exactly is the Dragon Boat Festival?
00:12It's a traditional holiday held annually on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, where
00:16teams race each other in long paddle-powered boats.
00:19But the work starts long before the start of the race.
00:43Teams come from all over Taipei.
00:45Some represent colleges and high schools, others bring together work colleagues.
00:49That includes some of the representative offices based here in Taipei.
00:51We caught the Dutch team as they wrapped up their first race of the day.
00:54For our office, this is the third year, but this is my first time, including some of my
00:59colleagues.
01:00But it's great to fully experience such an ancient tradition.
01:06It's really great to not just be on the audience, but inside it.
01:09Yay!
01:11And we did not lose!
01:12It's a day for people of all ages.
01:15All along, the Riverside fans crowd under tents and watch the boats go all out.
01:18Some spectators are here supporting friends and family.
01:21Some live in the neighborhood.
01:22And there are others here for the very first time.
01:24We have here today.
01:25We have here today.
01:25I think this is great.
01:27I also want to take a look at the friends and friends, because it's the third year of
01:31Are you going to come here tomorrow?
01:32Yeah!
01:33Do you want to come to the beach?
01:35I just wanted to come to the beach.
01:36I just wanted to come to the beach.
01:37I just wanted to come to the beach.
01:38Dragon Boat races, or similar events, have been part of Taipei since as early as the 19th
01:42century, and is in no danger of losing its popularity.
01:45Despite the heat, plenty of locals and even some tourists stopped by to catch a glimpse of the competitions.
01:49There are still two more days of races and activities before this year's Dragon Boat
01:53Festival wraps up.
01:54With the summer heat showing no signs of letting up, teams will need every bit of endurance
01:58to make it to the finish line.
02:00Hank Xu and Larry Siano in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
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