China Dragon Boat Festival 2025

When is it Celebrated?

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, usually in June. In 2024, it will be celebrated on June 10th. The festival is a public holiday in China, with many people enjoying a three-day break.

Dragon Boat Festival Historical Data (2023 - 2027)

Know about the Complete List of Public Holidays in China this year including National and Regional holidays.

Purpose

The festival serves multiple purposes:

• Commemorating Qu Yuan, a loyal statesman and poet who drowned himself in the Miluo River out of despair for his country.
• Promoting health and warding off evil spirits, as the 5th lunar month was historically considered unlucky.
• Encouraging unity and teamwork through the iconic dragon boat races.

How Is It Celebrated?

The Dragon Boat Festival is a lively occasion filled with exhilarating traditions and age-old rituals.

1. Dragon Boat Races

One of the festival's most electrifying traditions is the dragon boat race, where teams paddle in ornate, dragon-shaped boats to the rhythm of pounding drums. The race symbolizes the attempt to rescue Qu Yuan and demonstrates teamwork, endurance and strength.

2. Eating Zongzi (粽子)

People prepare and eat zongzi, glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. These are filled with a variety of ingredients like red bean paste, pork or salted egg yolks. The tradition originates from villagers throwing rice into the river to prevent fish from eating Qu Yuan's body.

3. Hanging Mugwort and Calamus

To ward off evil spirits and pestilence, families hang mugwort and calamus leaves around their homes. These plants are believed to have medicinal properties and keep bad luck at bay.

4. Wearing Fragrant Sachets (香囊)

Children wear colorful sachets filled with aromatic herbs to protect themselves from disease and misfortune. These sachets are often embroidered with intricate designs and make for cherished keepsakes.

5. Drinking Realgar Wine (雄黄酒)

An ancient custom involves drinking Realgar wine, a traditional Chinese wine believed to repel insects and evil spirits. However, this practice has faded over time due to safety concerns.

History

The festival traces its origins to Qu Yuan (340–278 BCE), a patriotic poet and official of the Chu Kingdom during the Warring States Period. He was wrongfully exiled and, in despair over his country's corruption, drowned himself in the Miluo River. Locals raced in boats to save him, but upon failing, they threw rice into the river to distract fish from devouring his body—thus birthing the zongzi tradition.

Over time, Duanwu evolved beyond Qu Yuan's story, absorbing influences from ancient health rituals, summer solstice celebrations and regional customs.

Focus & Activities

• Cultural preservation – Emphasizing the importance of folklore, storytelling and historical remembrance.
• Community bonding – Bringing people together through team sports, food preparation and shared traditions.
• Well-being & protection – Symbolic acts to safeguard against misfortune, illness and malevolent spirits.

Facts

• The Dragon Boat Festival is over 2,000 years old, making it one of China's oldest festivals.
• In 2009, UNESCO recognized it as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."
• Different regions have unique variations of zongzi, with sweet versions popular in the north and savory ones in the south.
• Dragon boat races have expanded worldwide, with competitions in Canada, the UK and the US.

Modern-Day Celebrations

While the core traditions remain, modern celebrations include:

• International dragon boat races attracting global participation.
• Tourism promotions, with cities like Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Hong Kong hosting spectacular events.
• Social media engagement, where people share zongzi recipes, family traditions and festival memories.

What Do People Do?

On this day, families gather to prepare and eat zongzi, watch dragon boat races and participate in local festivities. Many people also honor Qu Yuan by visiting his memorials and reading his poetry. Children enjoy colorful sachets and festive decorations, while adults indulge in seasonal delicacies.

The Dragon Boat Festival is a thrilling blend of history, competition and culinary delights, making it one of China's most beloved cultural treasures.