Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the biggest annual celebrations in China. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, and together with Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival forms one of the three major Chinese Festivals.

The festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese national hero who died a martyr by jumped into the river for protesting against corrupts Chinese rulers over 2,000 years ago. The festival is celebrated by boat races in the shape of dragons. It is the traditional customs attempts to rescue Qu Yuan. The ornately carved dragon boats are crewed by a team of 20 paddles, their efforts kept in rhythm by the pounding of a drummer in the prow of each boat. Thousands turns out to watch these thrilling races. This lively and colorful tradition has continued unbroken for centuries to the present day.

Zong Zi, rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves join a celebrations that has gone on for centuries. Originally Zong Zi, was made to throw into the river to prevent fish from eating the body of Qu Yuan, but gradually it was eaten in memory of the hero and now it evolve into a snack eaten during normal occasions as well.

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