KATHMANDU, June 8: The Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival is going to be held for the first time in Pokhara. The festival is being organized with the aim of attracting Chinese tourists to Nepal while strengthening the cultural and people-to-people relations between the two countries.

The boat race is being organized at the joint initiative of Nepal Tourism Board, Chinese Embassy in Nepal and Pokhara Metropolitan City. Preparations have started for the festival to be held on June 23 and 24 at the Fewa Lake.

Chairperson of Pokhara Tourism Council, Pomnarayan Shrestha, said that eight special boats from China have been brought to Pokhara for the boat race to be held under the festival.

Eight teams including four from China and four from Nepal are competing in the race of 500 and 1000 meters. Special guests from China will be participating in the festival.

Nepali and Chinese cuisine and Chinese cultural programs will be the added attraction of the festival. A total of 260 participants including 60 athletes will come to Pokhara by chartering a plane to participate in the Nepal-China Dragon Boat Race Festival, according to the organizers.

The Chinese team will land at the Pokhara International Airport on two chartered planes from China. The festival is estimated to cost Rs. 25 million, said Shrestha.

 
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