Athletes paddle at the 6th China Dujiangyan (Hongkou) International Rafting Competition in Dujiangyan, Chengdu, Sichuan province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Dujiangyan city in Chengdu, Sichuan province, held an international rafting competition on June 22, with teams from several countries, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Hungary, and Serbia, and China's provinces and cities, taking part in the event.

Canada won the competition, beating the United States with a narrow margin of 2 seconds. The team from Beijing came third.

"The competition is well-organized and quite professional. My partners and I would like to come again next year," said Jake, a member of the Canadian team.

China Dujiangyan (Hongkou) International Rafting Competition, held for the sixth time this year, has been named "the best rafting event in western China" by the Water Sports Administration Center at General Administration of Sport of China.

As a major tourism attraction in Dujiangyan, the sport is expected to boost the local tourism industry together with other events such as beach volleyball, mountain bike ride, and rock climbing.