An Inside Look at the Yangtze River Crossing Festival
On July 16, 2025, the Chinese city of Wuhan made waves with the 50th Yangtze River Crossing festival, an exhilarating yet challenging 1800-meter swim across the Yangtze, the third largest river in the world.
Seventy international elite athletes, as well as 2000 locals, competed in the event. At stake was a prize pool of up to 50,000 Yuan for the winner of the competitive event (approximately $7,000 or £5,000) to 2000 Yuan ($280 or £200) for all finishers within a cutoff. With Olympians and veterans of the event in the competition, there was anticipation for the competition at home and abroad.
The men’s champion was Olympian and Asian Games champion Zhang Ziyang, who claimed an impressive fourth title at this event and broke the course record with a time of 11 minutes and 21 seconds. The female crown was taken by home hero Xia Zixuan in a time of 12 minutes 53 seconds.
However, the event is not solely about the open water race. The entire week of competition is part of a festival of culture in Wuhan, where invitees from across the globe get to experience a beautiful country that many may not have previously seen.
Two such athletes were British representatives Benjamin Ross and Jessica Corder. They were kind enough to recap the exciting week, which was a new experience.
The Buildup
The swimmers only received their invitations to the event a few weeks prior to the competition. Therefore, they encountered a whirlwind buildup of nerves and excitement rolled into one. When asked about how they were feeling about visiting China, Ross said: “It is the first time I have been to China, so I am very excited to see the culture and experience the country.” Corder said she was “really excited to be invited to the festival.”
Of the race itself, Ross said he “wants to be competitive and amongst the best swimmers in this international event” while Corder said “it is a great opportunity which will be challenging but also exciting because I have put the hard work in.”
They then embarked on a 10-hour flight to Beijing and a further two-hour journey to Wuhan, where the adventure started.
Adulation for Athletes
Across the entire week, international athletes were given the superstar treatment in Wuhan, to which the British competitors, among others from across the globe, had never seen before. This treatment included constantly being stopped for pictures with locals, being bombarded with media everywhere they went, an opening ceremony to the race where athletes were paraded on a stage and greeted by chanting fans upon arrival on race day.
This was a lasting memory for the swimmers, who said they will never forget the experience. Said Ross: “It was unexpected but very flattering to have this incredible experience with these nice people.” Corder added: “It was unbelievable. Everyone was so polite, asking for photos and interviews everywhere. It was almost like being a celebrity for a week.”
Race Day
The race started early in the morning, so competitors had to wake up at 5:20 a.m. before leaving at 6 a.m. to arrive at the event forty minutes later. They were greeted by the aforementioned fanfare from locals, which reinforced the significance of the swim. Following the opening festivities, the men’s event started action.
Ross finished 19th in a stacked field featuring multiple Olympians. When asked about the race, he said: “Everyone was cramped together at the start before breaking out and taking different lines. Towards the end, you could feel the current more before a difficult finish to interpret.”
Having battled illness when first arriving in China, Ross persevered to finish strongly. When asked about his feelings toward the race, he said: “It was a very challenging and difficult race. It’s bittersweet because had I not been ill, I feel I could have done better. But it was still a decent overall race and I maintained a good speed throughout.”
Ten minutes later, the klaxon sounded for the women to set off across the same course. In her first international event, Corder came in an outstanding fifth place. When asked about the achievement, she said: “It was a really good race. As soon as we set off, everyone took different paths and you had to fight against the current to stay in the race. I was really happy with my performance to come out fifth with Olympians finishing ahead of me. The finish was challenging to time but overall it was a really good race and I loved it.”
Experiencing Chinese Culture
The week was also packed with visits to local landmarks. The most notable were the millennia old Yellow Crane Tower, visited on the first day, Han Street, a notable food and culture hub, and a traditional Buddhist temple.
Following the race, the swimmers experienced the Zhiyinhao cruise. This was a celebration of Chinese culture which included native singing, dancing and acting performances. The culmination included the British swimmers ballroom dancing with Chinese compatriots in front of an onlooking crowd.
The experience, from start to finish, was a unique one. Ross said: “This culture was very interesting and I would love to see more of it.” Corder added: “It was really great to experience a new culture that is completely different to being at home.”
Reflecting on the entire experience, Ross said: “Overall, it was a super enjoyable and exciting opportunity to visit Wuhan. It is the first I have ever been to the other side of the world and I learned lots. There was an amazing environment and I would love to go again.” Corder reinforced this sentiment, saying: “I had so much fun. Everyone was so friendly and it was an overall incredible experience.”
The opportunity to compete in China for these young British swimmers was invaluable. Such lessons can only further their budding careers on a personal level. More, other international swim meets can learn from the cultural assimilation and respect for the athletes shown at the Yangtze River Crossing Festival. It can be used to bolster the profiles of elite swimmers when they travel to compete at the highest level of our sport.
