The 7th Zhejiang University Concrete Dragon Boat Competition was held at Faculty Club on International Campus, Zhejiang University in Haining on June 15, 2026.
The competition drew 15 interdisciplinary teams from across Zhejiang University. Participants competed across four core segments: material performance testing, straight-line racing, obstacle navigation, and a comprehensive project review, showcasing their creative thinking, hands-on engineering prowess, and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills.
Qu Haidong, Vice Dean of the International Campus, Zhejiang University, delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. Other attendees included Associate Professor Wee-Liat Ong, Vice Dean of ZJUI, Associate Professor Li Binbin, Academic Director of the Civil Engineering Program, Professor Zhu Tingju, Director of the Research Cluster of Sustainable and Smart Infrastructure Engineering, and Professor Xiao Yan and Assistant Professor Yasutaka Narazaki.
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The competition was structured into technical reviews and on-water challenges. For the technical portion, teams were scored on hull technical papers, design and poster presentations. The practical and on-water events included concrete specimen testing, straight-line racing, obstacle navigation, and load-bearing testing.
Every team developed its own concrete mix formula, hull structure, and remote control system from scratch. Drawing on expertise spanning civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and design, students had to strike a delicate balance across weight, structural strength, sailing stability, and overall performance.
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Following multiple rounds of rigorous judging, one team claimed the Grand Prize, two teams took home First Prize, five were awarded Second Prize, and seven received Third Prize.
Members of the Grand Prize-winning team shared that iterative testing and continuous design refinement had not only sharpened their technical abilities but also strengthened their teamwork. The experience also deepened their appreciation for traditional dragon boat culture and the unique value of ZJUI’s interdisciplinary education.
A Third Prize-winning team echoed this sentiment. Their project integrated electronic control systems, structural design, concrete casting, and waterproofing techniques. For the students, the most rewarding part of the competition was turning an initial concept into a fully functional vessel through seamless teamwork and clear role division.
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Bridging traditional Chinese culture and modern engineering education, the Concrete Dragon Boat Competition offers students a valuable platform for hands-on experimentation, cross-team collaboration, and creative problem-solving. The event fully highlighted the interdisciplinary creativity and practical engineering capabilities of Zhejiang University students.
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