The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) is one of China’s most exciting holidays — featuring dramatic dragon boat races and aromatic zongzi dumplings.
The Legend of Qu Yuan
Commemorates Qu Yuan (340-278 BCE), a poet-statesman who drowned himself in protest of corruption. Local people raced out in boats to save him — or retrieve his body — throwing zongzi to distract fish.
Dragon Boat Racing
Teams of 20 paddlers race in long boats accompanied by drummers. The sport has spread globally with international competitions in Canada, the US, and Europe.
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