Festival Heritage Hub

The Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is a lively holiday with a rich history. It commemorates the life and death of the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River. Villagers raced out in boats to save him, sparking the tradition of dragon boat racing.

One of the festival’s key features is the thrilling dragon boat races held across rivers and lakes, attracting teams and spectators alike. Eating zongzi—sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves—is another important tradition, meant to honor Qu Yuan and protect against evil.

The festival serves to promote cultural identity, resilience, and community spirit. Today, the races have become major international sporting events and zongzi is enjoyed in new, inventive flavors, blending age-old customs with modern enthusiasm.