The first National Ice Dragon Boat Race kicked off on Jan. 15 in northwest China's lake city of Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Hosted by the General Administration of Sports, Ningxia Administration of Sports and the Yinchuan municipal government, the contest features boats races on ice over a straight 250-meter course. There are three speed events: The 12-man and 12-woman races as well as a family race over a straight 150-meter course. The family event allows five members per boat.

A total of 38 teams from Shanghai, Guangdong, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia registered for the competition. More than 100 ice sports enthusiasts also entered the family races.

Duo Yongyi, head of the Yinchuan Administration of Sports, said the launching of the race will promote ice dragon boat sports in northern China and enrich local people's winter life through sports.

Yinchuan City, which boasts abundant water resources, has held ice dragon boat races annually since 2010.