Dragon boats sail in the canel of Aveiro, Portugal, on June 16, 2018. A dragon boat sailing event, jointly organized by the Confucius Institute at Aveiro University and the municipality of Aveiro, was held here on Sunday, to greet the upcoming Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

AVEIRO, Portugal, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Residents in Portugal's northern city of Aveiro on Saturday enjoyed a series of activities marking China's traditional Dragon Boat Festival.

The celebrations, co-hosted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Aveiro and Aveiro Municipal Hall, featured a folk art display, Chinese calligraphy, tea art, a dragon dance, martial arts, and a small workshop teaching people how to make zongzi, pyramid-shaped dumplings made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves.

A star attraction of the activities was a dragon boat sailing event, in which nine teams of Chinese learners in Aveiro and nearby cities participated.

As the dragon boat sailed along a canal through downtown Aveiro, local residents lined up on both banks and watched with excitement.

Luis Felipe, a cultural councillor of the City of Aveiro, said at the opening ceremony that he was very happy to participate in the dragon boat sailing and hoped everyone present would have a wonderful time.

Catarina Barreto, an Aveiro city official, said that the activities have brought together the traditional cultures of both Portugal and China and provided local people with a good opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture.

She said that the event has a positive impact on cultural exchanges between the two countries, and that Portugal is receptive to other cultures. Barreto said she hoped that similar activities will be held in the future.