Dragon Boat Racing at the Dragon Boat Festival
On June 18, drums thundered and oars splashed across the millennium-old Longyou River as the "Jiuding Cup" First Rugao Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament kicked off with passion. The company formed two dragon boat teams—the Jiuding New Material Team and the Jiuding Special Fiber Team—which stood out among 25 strong teams from across the city, winning second and third place respectively. With their fighting spirit, they presented a gift for the Dragon Boat Festival and delivered a waterborne feast where traditional folk customs meet new material technology for the people of Rugao.
Industry Reinvests in Hometown: Dragon Boat Drums Echo for the First Time in the Ancient City
Rugao is named for its waters and prospered through its culture, yet for a century the sound of dragon boat racing was rarely heard on the Longyou River. Guided by the corporate mission of "Standing Firm Between Heaven and Earth, Repaying Society," and driven personally by Chairman Gu Qingbo, Jiuding New Material used industry to reinvest in culture by forming the city's first folk dragon boat team and supporting Rugao's first Dragon Boat Festival race, reviving the traditional cultural spirit of "working together in the same boat and striving to be first" on the blue waves.
At 2:00 p.m., the opening ceremony was held along the Longyou River. Cheng Ruiqin, Deputy Secretary of the Rugao Municipal Party Committee and Mayor, together with Gu Qingbo, Chairman of Jiuding New Material, jointly performed the eye-dotting ceremony for two brand-new dragon boats. The eye-dotting ceremony marked a new chapter in Rugao's dragon boat culture.
▲ Mayor Cheng Ruiqin and Chairman Gu Qingbo jointly dot the eyes of the dragon boats
After the eye-dotting ceremony, Mayor Cheng Ruiqin announced the official opening of the competition. As the starting whistle pierced the air, 25 teams competed fiercely in 200-meter straight-track races across separate lanes.
Forged in Over Forty Days: Frontline Employees Demonstrate "Jiuding Speed" on the Race Course
All members of the two Jiuding teams came from production, technology, sales and other frontline departments. From team formation to competition, they underwent only 40-plus days of high-intensity training. Starting from scratch, team members held their posts during the day and added physical training in the mornings and evenings. Their hands developed blisters and their shoulders ached unbearably, yet no one backed down. It was precisely with this corporate spirit of "pooling wisdom and pursuing excellence" that the two teams advanced through every round, both reaching the finals.
In the finals, drums beat like thunder as the team members cleaved through the waves with seamless coordination. Their synchronized rowing movements complemented the scenic beauty along both banks of the Longyou River. Ultimately, the Jiuding New Material Team finished a close second, while the Jiuding Special Fiber Team took third place. As the two teams stepped onto the podium together, company employees in the crowd cheered in unison, pushing the atmosphere to its climax.
"From zero foundation to standing on the podium, this is glory earned through the sweat of every team member," said Yang Chen, captain of the dragon boat team, after the race. "As training intensity gradually increased, all team members trained through injuries in the later stage, but no one complained—everyone persisted. Because we all know this is not just a race, but an important initiative for Jiuding people to practice our corporate mission, promote the revival of local traditional culture, and carry forward national culture."
Citywide Attention and Media Spotlight Demonstrate Leadership Responsibility
Twenty-five teams and nearly 400 athletes participated, with tens of thousands of citizens watching along the river—a spectacular occasion. CCTV and Jiangsu Provincial Television both reported on the event.
Multiple organizations sent congratulatory letters, including the Nantong New Materials Industry Chamber of Commerce, the Jiangsu Sushang Development Promotion Association, the Zhang Jian Entrepreneur Academy, and the Chinese Culture Promotion Society. The Zhang Jian Entrepreneur Academy wrote in its letter: "Your company has put into action the spirit of Zhang Jian's 'serving the country through industry.' The connotation of unity and striving embodied in dragon boat racing is in the same vein as the patriotic spirit and fighting spirit advocated by Mr. Zhang Jian." Xia Jun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Chinese Culture Promotion Society, wrote with deep feeling: "Jiuding New Material reinvests in culture through industry, reviving the spirit of 'working together in the same boat' on the water, and writing Rugao's cultural confidence with passion and sweat."
The Journey Continues: Century-Old Jiuding Forges Ahead
After the race, all participating team members took a group photo with Chairman Gu Qingbo along the Longyou River. Going forward, Jiuding New Material will continue to uphold the mission of "Standing Firm Between Heaven and Earth, Repaying Society," rooted in the new materials industry, to contribute more "corporate strength" to Rugao's high-quality development.
Post time: Oct-09-2026
