What is Dragon Boat Festival & Where to Watch the Races
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The “Duan Wu Festival,” known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional holiday originating in China, occurring near the summer solstice. The festival’s main purpose is for commemorating fealty and familial devotion. The festival now occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional Chinese calendar, which is the source of the festival's alternative name, the Double Fifth Festival. The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, so the date of the festival varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar, and will be held from May 28th – May 30th this year. Check out what do during this year’s Dragon Boat Festival!
What’s the Story?
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It is believed that Duanwu Festival originated in China (in 278 B.C) based on the suicide of the the glorified statesman of the Chu kingdom, known as Qu Yuan. The festival celebrates Qu Yuan’s death and pays homage to his loyalty. Qu Yuan was supposedly conspired against by jealous officials and peers, and eventually exiled by King Chu. During this time, Qu composed poems that eventually grew to fame due to their deep emotion from his sorrow. Qu Yuan’s tragic story ends when he drowned himself in the Miluo River. The people of Chu attempted to save him out on fishing boats in the river looking for Qu but were unsuccessful. Now the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated every year in memory of both Qu Yuan and the people’s attempt to save him.
What Do You Have to Eat?
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Zong zi. You have to eat Zong zi. I know the literal translation of “glutinous rice” doesn’t sound so great, but these bad boys are actually delicious. If I were you, avoid the sweet syrup-covered types and go straight from the egg-yolk & stewed pork filled. There are the perfect mix of a hint of sweetness & savory orgasms to keep you going until the next time you find yourself celebrating a random Chinese family holiday.
Watch a Dragon Boat Race
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If you find water, you should also find dragon boat races. The students at Fudan University, amongst others, do events every year. However, if in doubt, head to Suzhou Creek during the festival (May 30th) to watch the 14th Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Race. Including teams from all over China & abroad, it’s the most popular dragon boat race in China, and most likely the world to my knowledge. Additionally, if you fancy to get out of the city you can go over to our beautiful neighbor Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province to watch a race in the renowned Xixi Wetlands.
CHINA DRAGON BOAT RACE- PUTUO STATION
Where: Zhongyuan Liangwan city, by the Suzhou river, Putuo district
When: 9am-5pm, May 25-29
Price: Free
Address: 100, Zhongtan Lu
HANGZHOU XIXI INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT RACE
Where: Hangzhou Xixi wetland park
Tel: 0571-88106683 88106689
When: 8:30am-5pm, Tuesday, May 30
Price: Free
Address: 518 Tianmu shan Lu, Xihu district
SUZHOU JINJI LAKE DRAGON BOAT RACE
Where: Moonlight dock, Jinji Lake
When: 8:30am-12pm, Tuesday, May 30
Price: Free
Address: Modern Avenue, Wuzhong district
Impress Your Local Friends
If you really want to surprise your Chinese pals, buy some of these perfumed medicine bags (香囊) and give them as a gift. For the Chinese this a cultural norm of the Duanwu Festival every year and the perfume bags are known to bring good luck, as well as good smells throughout your home. At the very least they are meant to keep the bugs away.
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