The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival has become one of the biggest and most exciting events that take place during the annual Dragon Boat Festival, attracting more than 100,000 spectators.

Held under the stunning skyline of Victoria Harbour, the Dragon Boat Carnival takes place at the Central Harbourfront of Hong Kong Island, and is a great opportunity to see the races up close without even leaving the city.

This massive three-day event comprises the CCB (Asia) Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, and the San Miguel BeerFest, making it a wild and fun filled weekend.

Dragon boat races have a long history in Hong Kong and southern China, and today take place all over the world. Teams take the competition very seriously, with corporate sponsors, and months of practice leading up to the big event, when paddlers battle it out for glory.

This has become such a big event that teams from overseas come to Hong Kong specifically to participate in the big race.

All along the waterfront you can see the flags waving, hear the beat of the drum, and feel the energy as the teams prepare for battle.

In past years, the San Miguel Beer Fest provided lots of entertainment, with live performances by top bands, fun games and activities, and of course cold beer and hot food, so both spectators and paddlers could rewind and party after a long day, but it’s not clear if this will return with all the strict COVID-19 restrictions in place.

For a really unique view of the races, take a ride on the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, which overlooks the Central Harbourfront, giving you a bird’s eye view of the action below.