The Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 23 this year. Most people in China will enjoy a three-day holiday, lasting from June 22 to June 24. Welcome to China and explore the traditional folk customs of this interesting festival!
Falling on the 5th day of the 5th month according to Chinese lunar calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival is a unique festival in China. It has been held annually for more than 2,000 years. The festival commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan (340-278 B.C.), and also acts as a chance for Chinese people to build their bodies and dispel diseases.
Many traditional customs and activities are held on this specified day by the Chinese people. Among these customs are dragon boat racing; eating zongzi, the traditional food of glutinous rice dumpling; wearing a perfume pouch; tying five-colour silk thread and hanging mugwort leaves and calamus.
The dragon boat races will be held in Beijing during the festival period, especially on June 23. You can go to Xiadu Park in Yanqing, a suburban district of Beijing to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with the locals, by watching the dragon boat races, appreciating lanterns, and learning how to make zongzi.