The Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie) falls on the 5^th day of the 5^th lunar month. This festival was established in commemoration of Qu Yuan, a great poet of the third century B. C. . An upright minister of the state of Chu, he was thwarted in his ambitions to save the country and threw himself into the Miluo River in present-day Hunan Province when the State of Qin conquered Chu. As he was so loved by the people, fishermen rashed out in long boats, beating drums to scare the fish away, and throwing zongzi into the water to feed braver fish so that they would not eat QuYuan's body.

Starting from that time to this day, people commemorate Qu Yuan through Dragon boat Racing, eating zongzi, and several other activities on the anniversary of his death.

Zonggzi is the most popular food served during thisfestival. This traditional food is a glutinous rice ball, with a filling, wrapped in bamboo leaves. The fillings can be egg, date, sweet potato, walnut, mushroom, fruit, meat or a combination of them. They are generally boiled for along time. Gradually it evolved into a snack eaten on normal occasions.

The Dragon Boat Racing is also a highlight at this festival. Competing teams drive their boats forward rowing to the rhythm of a pounding drum. Dragon boats are generally brightly painted and decorated canoes. Their head are shaped Iike open-mouthed dragons. A drummer stands at the front of the boat. Races can have any number of boats competing, with the winner being the first team to grab a flag at the end of the course. This lively and colourful tradition has continued  through centuries to the present day.


China In-depth Travel provides China tour packages, China culture tours, private China tours, Xian tour, ect.