Pokhara: The Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival is going to be held for the first time in Pokhara.

The festival is being organized with the target of attracting Chinese tourists to Nepal while strengthening the cultural and people-to-people relations between the two countries.

The boat race is being organized at the joint initiative of Nepal Tourism Board, Chinese Embassy in Nepal and Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Preparations have started for the festival to be held on June 23 and 24 at the Fewa Lake.

Chairperson of Pokhara Tourism Council, Pomnarayan Shrestha, said that eight special boats from China have been brought to Pokhara for the boat race to be held under the festival.

Eight teams including four from China and four from Nepal are competing in the race of 500 and 1000 meters.