The 2026 China International Women's Rowing Elite Race kicked off in Fengxian district on May 15. Ahead of the competition, the participating athletes embarked on cultural tours that showcased both the traditions and innovations of the district.

On May 13, 15 rowers from the Czech Republic, Australia, and New Zealand visited Feiyun Island in Jinhui town. Nestled amidst water, the island is home to a century-old Jiangnan residence, where rustic charm harmonizes with modern water sports. At the experience zone, the athletes tried their hands at making herbal sachets, practiced calligraphy, and watched a shadow puppet performance, an intangible cultural heritage item.

George, 22, from Rowing Western Australia, showed particular enthusiasm for the traditional craft of stitching heartfelt wishes into fabric, praising the local culture as deeply rooted and well preserved.

At the shadow puppet area, Eliska, 24, from the Czech team, was captivated by the moving silhouettes on the screen before stepping behind to manipulate the puppets herself. She expressed delight in learning about the traditional Chinese culture embedded in the art form.

On May 14, athletes from New Zealand's Otago University Rowing Club visited the Waving Cube sci-fi museum.

The futuristic design immediately drew attention, and a system quickly generated personalized sci-fi portraits based on each visitor's facial features and preferences. Many eagerly shared the images with family and friends back home in New Zealand.

The team also experienced a light and shadow show inspired by the Hugo Award-winning novel Three-Body Problem, in which classic elements from the story unfolded on a massive circular screen, accompanied by immersive sound and lighting, transporting the young visitors into an unknown universe.

From Fengxian's countryside to the imaginative cosmos of a sci-fi museum, this journey blending technology, sports, and culture offered international visitors a vivid glimpse of Fengxian and brought cross-cultural understanding to life in a tangible and memorable way.

Source: Fengxian district government