Nepal Tourism Board, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, and Pokhara Metropolitan City, will be organising the first Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival in Pokhara.

The two-day event is scheduled to begin on June 23, Nepal Tourism Board said.

Pokhara Tourism Council and Nepal-China Overseas Association will be the co-organiser of the festival.

Eight specially designed Dragon-themed racing boats from China, along with several participants will be competing in the festival, the organiser said.

Similarly, racers from all seven provinces of Nepal will also be participating in the competition.

The organisers stated that the festival is going to be organised with the motive of boosting cultural ties between the two countries and attracting Chinese tourists to Nepal.

Dhananjaya Regmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board and Wang Shin, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, signed the memorandum of understanding to organise the festival, on behalf of their respective organisations.

According to the Chinese Embassy, the boat race festival to be held in Pokhara is the first of its kind in South Asia.

“Pokhara, which is a preferred destination for Chinese tourists, is the first city in South Asia to host the Dragon boat race festival,” said Wang. The boat race festival will make tourism in Pokhara vibrant, said Regmi.

“I am optimistic that the event organised in the collective effort of Nepal Tourism Board, Chinese Embassy and Pokhara Municipality along with other stakeholders will attract a large number of tourists,” added Regmi. A food festival will also be organised at the event.