On the morning of June 29, the fourth rowing league of the X9 University and Research Institute Alliance of Shenzhen Xili Lake International Science and Education City (hereinafter referred to as the “X9 Alliance”) passionately kicked off at Shenzhen’s Dasha River.

The Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology rowing team, along with over 350 rowers from renowned universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Oxford University, and Cambridge University, competed on the same river, delivering a “speed and passion” water spectacle.

With the referee’s command, rowing boats shot out like arrows from a bow, drawing graceful arcs on the rippling river surface. The athletes rowed vigorously, chasing waves and striving for the lead, vividly showcasing the “strength” and “beauty” of rowing. On both sides of the riverbank, enthusiastic spectators continuously cheered for the athletes, with shouts of encouragement rising one after another.

The Dasha River station competition set up four categories: student men’s eight-person single-oar with coxswain, mixed gender eight-person single-oar with coxswain, women’s eight-person single-oar with coxswain, and expert eight-person single-oar with coxswain. Compared to last year, a new category for student women’s eight-person single-oar with coxswain was added.

The lineup for this competition was very strong. In addition to domestic universities and research institutions such as Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Pengcheng Laboratory, rowing teams from prestigious universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Cambridge University, Oxford University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Sydney also participated.

Oxford University and Cambridge University were invited to participate in the X9 Alliance Rowing League for the second year. Oxford University student Rhys Williams said that the competition team coordinated seamlessly, with everyone performing exceptionally well,"It's really great to connect with different university students in China; 'passion for rowing' gives us a common resonance.”

Rowing not only carries profound campus cultural heritage but is also known as "one of the sports projects that best embodies team spirit." In major universities around the world, rowing is highly valued and even regarded as the "language of exchange between prestigious universities."

Sky Upender, a student from the University of California, Berkeley, has been learning rowing for 6 years; this is his first time coming to China to participate in a rowing competition."Here I met a group of people passionate about rowing; if it weren't for the rowing competition, we might never have had the chance to meet.So I think it's great, so many like-minded people gathered together, investing their passion.”

It is understood that this league is guided by the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, led by the Education Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, hosted by the X9 University and Research Institute Alliance of Shenzhen Xili Lake International Science and Education City, and co-organized by Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Nanshan District People's Government, and Guangming District People's Government.