KUNMING, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The fifth Asian Dragon Boat Championships opened Friday in Dali Bai Autonomous prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The Asian Championships has been held twice a year since 2010 and it is the first time that China is the host of the watersport event.

Organized by the Asian Canoe Confederation, the competition this year has a total of six races in 200 meter and 500 meter events. There will be participants from eight Asian countries and regions including China, Singapore, Thailand, India, Myanmar and the Philippines.

More than 30 percent of people in Dali are from the Bai ethnic group and the dragon boat competition has been part of Bai culture for more than 1,000 years.

"The hosting of the Asian Championships can effectively combine Chinese tradition with an international sport, which can better promote Dali and Chinese culture to the world," said Chen Chunxin, deputy chairman of Chinese Canoeing Association.

Dragon boat racing made its debut as an official event at the National Games in China in 2016 and by the end of 2017, 84 countries and regions have been competing in dragon boat racing competitions.?