Canoeists take part in the recreational public canoeing competition of Zhoushan on the Lanyue Lake, Changzhi Island, on Sept 16. [Photo/ mobile.zhoushan.cn]

The third recreational public canoeing competition of Zhoushan was held on the Lanyue Lake, Changzhi Island, Dinghai district, Zhoushan city, on Sept 16. 

The activity was designed to promote canoeing, an increasingly popular outdoor activity and sport, among the public, and further advance its development in the city.

"The development of a city's mass sports activities, as well as the abundance and diversity of its sports events, constitutes an important factor of the city's quality, public vitality and civil happiness," said a competition organizer. 

Zhoushan, despite being by the sea, is however relatively underdeveloped in water sports, and it is hoped that the recreational canoeing competition will go some way to developing their popularity in the city and also increase tourist numbers.

The competition included various forms of canoeing activities, such as a single race, mixed-sex group race, team relay race and family group race.

Two canoeists on the Lanyue Lake, Changzhi Island. [Photo/ mobile.zhoushan.cn]

Participants exert themselves to row the canoe in the single race. [Photo/ mobile.zhoushan.cn]