Participants from Hangzhou row a dragon boat. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

At noon on June 11, the opening ceremony of the 44th Boston Dragon Boat Festival was held on the banks of the Charles River, which runs across the city.

Invited by the organizers in her sister city of Boston, the Hangzhou Municipal Government and Hangzhou municipal bureau of culture, radio, TV, and tourism participated in the festival and presented the organizing committee with a dragon boat featuring images related to Hangzhou.

Among the countless dragon boats at the festival, the one with a light blue hull featuring the words "Heaven on Earth" and "Hangzhou-Living Poetry" particularly stood out.

The booth of Hangzhou was surrounded by many local residents and race participants, making it one of the most popular booths at the opening ceremony. Fun games including sepaktakraw, pitch pots, painted eggs, and dragon boat puzzles with Chinese characteristics were held at the booth. Many people visited the booth, asking questions and winning prizes. More than 10,000 copies of the promotional materials were requested.

This year marks the 41st year of friendship between Hangzhou and Boston, and this year's Dragon Boat Festival serves as an important celebration of the link between the two cities.

In addition, the Hangzhou Culture and Tourism Roadshow was also launched in Boston on June 14.

When two communities from different countries came together to forge a cordial and meaningful relationship, a sister city friendship was formally created. After many years of exchanges in culture, ideas, and education, the mutual understanding and goodwill between Hangzhou and Boston have been steadily growing.