The fourth Hangzhou West Lake Rowing Challenge returns to West Lake on Nov 16. [Photo/CFP]

The fourth Hangzhou West Lake Rowing Challenge returned to the picturesque West Lake on Nov 16 after a three-year hiatus, signaling the city's post-Asian Games success in hosting approved competitions.

The event is the only one of its kind to be held in the open waters of West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Following an invitation-based format, the competition featured top-tier Chinese universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University, bringing together over 100 participants from renowned university rowing teams, rowing clubs, and high school rowing teams.

The competition comprised university, high school, and club categories. Athletes in each category competed in both the coxed eight 1,000-meter sprint and the 500-m head-to-head races.

The racecourse showcased the most scenic stretch of West Lake, starting at the Broken Bridge and finishing at Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn, both must-see sites in the scenic area. The course also followed the millennium-old Bai Causeway, providing an elegant and charming backdrop.

The challenge draws crowds of spectators. [Photo/CFP]