Gear up for Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, usually in late May or June on the Gregorian calendar. This year, it falls on May 31.

Many other Asian countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, also celebrate this festival. It is widely believed that the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a patriotic Chinese poet from the Warring States Period (475–221 B.C.).

In fact, the festival was celebrated before Qu Yuan’s death. During the early hot days of summer, ancient people were vulnerable to epidemics. Our ancestors regarded this time as important for preventing disease and warding off evil spirits.

Traditional festival activities include dragon boat races and eating glutinous rice dumplings. People also bathe in herbal concoctions, hang wormwood and calamus, and drink realgar wine.

Here, we present a collection of photos capturing people across South China preparing for the dragon boat races.

Two teams compete during a Hubei provincial dragon boat race on Nanhu Lake in Wuhan yesterday. Photos by China News Service

The river bank is packed with onlookers as contestants took part in an evening training session for the upcoming dragon boat race in Jiaotantou Village, Foshan, Guangdong Province, on Saturday.

Villagers pray for the gods’ blessings at a ceremony before the maiden sail of new dragon boats in Daimei Village, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, on Saturday.

An aerial view shows two new dragon boats afloat on the river surrounding Daimei Village, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, on Saturday.

Villagers try out a new dragon boat in Daimei Village, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, on Saturday.