The Dragon Boat Festival has a history of over 2,000 years, with its most famous legend tied to Qu Yuan (屈原), a patriotic poet from the Warring States period.
Qu Yuan’s Story: A loyal minister, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River to protest corruption. Villagers raced in boats to save him and threw rice into the water to prevent fish from eating his body—leading to today’s dragon boat races and zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).
Dragon Boat Racing (Sài Lóngzhōu)
Teams paddle to drumbeats in colorful long boats shaped like dragons. Modern races are held worldwide—have you ever joined one?
Eating Zongzi
Sweet or savory? Northern China loves red bean/jujube zongzi, while the South swears by pork, salted egg yolk, or even spicy fillings!
Hanging Artemisia & Calamus
These aromatic plants are tied on doors to repel insects and bad luck—an ancient "air purifier"!
Fun Facts
In Chinese, people often say "Duānwǔ ānkāng" (Chinese Characters: 端午安康 English: Healthy Duanwu) instead of "Happy", honoring the day’s original purpose of disease prevention.
