The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duan Wu Jie or the Double Fifth Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar during the summer solstice.

It is one of the oldest festivals in China with a history of more than 2,500 years and celebrated throughout the world.

It is said that the origins of the festival can be traced back a further 5,000 to 6,000 years, where fishermen and farmers would worship the water dragon during the summer solstice. The "Water Dragon" is one of the most important mythical creatures in Chinese mythology and as the controller of water is a symbol of divine power and energy. Fishermen and farmers would pray for abundant rain to ensure a good harvest.

It was only from the second century onwards that the Dragon Boat Festival would be more widely associated with the commemoration of Qu Yuan, a well loved poet and patriotic statesman. The tradition of honouring the water dragon can still be observed in some local fishermen communities today.

In 2009, the Dragon Boat Festival was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

UNESCO states that "the Dragon Boat Festival strengthens bonds within families and establishes a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature. It also encourages the expression of imagination and creativity, contributing to a vivid sense of cultural identity".

The Legend of QuYuan

Qu Yuan (340-278BC) was a well-respected historical figure, a Chu state official and poet who lived during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

In the midst of turmoil during the Warring States, QWu Yuan was banished after opposing his king's decision to ally with the neighbouring state of Qin in 298 BC.

While the State of Chu crumbled, the exiled Qu Yuan fell into despair.

During this time he wrote several works of poetry including "Li Sao" ("The Lament") and "Jiu Ge" ("Nine Songs"), which he later became renowned for.

Several months after the fall of the State of Chu to the Qin, on the fifth day of the fifth month in 279 BC, Qu Yuan threw himself into the Miluo River and drowned.

Local fishermen who admired Qu Yuan for his patriotism and loyalty raced their boats to recover his body before it could be devoured by his, beating drums and throwing rice dumplings into the river to distract them.

Each year, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, crews of paddlers re-enact the frantic rush to save Qu Yuan, by propelling long narrow boats through the water to the rhythmic beating of the drums. 

A tradition that continues to this day during the Dragon Boat Festival to Honour the memory of QuYuan, the people's poet.

*From "Modern Day Dragon Boat Racing. Celebrating 30 years the IDBF"