An important festival celebrated in China with the longest history, the Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.

Qu Yuan, a Chinese national hero who drowned in the Mi Luo River in 277 BC. C. to react against corrupt and incompetent rulers. Qu Yuan was a minister of the Chu state, which aligned itself with another state with growing power called Qin. Qu Yuan was dubbed a merchant and was expelled to the border region, and it was during this period that he wrote what was considered to be China’s first great poetry. When Chu was gradually conquered by Qin, Qu Yuan got into a river out of anguish and patriotism for Qin. Legend has it that people beat the drums to keep the fish away and throw dumplings into the sea to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body, which explains why the Chinese eat Zongzi and hold competitions. dragon boat racing as a day of mourning for Qu Yuan’s death. .

Zongzi, a glutinous rice dumpling filled with various fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves, is a traditional Chinese food eaten that day in memory of the great poet. Glutinous rice forms the main ingredient of Zongzi, then it reaches the bamboo leaves that distinguish Zongzi from other types of dumplings. The filling often consists of pork, mung beans, sweetened red bean paste, etc. In ancient times, Zong zi was only eaten at the Dragon Boat Festival, but now the situation is a bit different. It can be obtained at any time of the year, and the taste of Zongzi differs from place to place, as the locals have developed their own varieties of Zongzi. If you come to China, don’t miss the national practice of eating Zongzi. You will surely be impressed by its delicacy.

Another highlight of the Dragon Boat Festival is the fierce dragon boat races in a vibrant spectacle. Different teams compete with the exquisitely ornamented dragon to the beat of the drums. The boasts, generally measured over a length of more than 10 meters with carved and painted dragon heads and tails, as well as a crew of approximately 20-22 rowers.

During the dragon boat competition, participants sit two by two with a drummer in front and a helmsman in the back. Rowers compete to see which team reaches the finish line first, propelled by the roar of the crowd and the roll of the drums.