How much do you know about the Dragon Boat Festival?

The fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar calendar marks one of China’s oldest traditional holidays — the Dragon Boat Festival. With over 2,000 years of history, eating zongzi and racing dragon boats have become iconic traditions. But behind it all is a powerful, emotional story.

This day commemorates a great poet — Qu Yuan.

Over two thousand years ago, during China’s Warring States period, Qu Yuan was a loyal minister in the Kingdom of Chu. He advocated strengthening the nation and forming alliances to resist the Qin kingdom. But his bold proposals offended powerful court officials, and he was eventually exiled.

While in exile, Qu Yuan was deeply distressed by his homeland’s fate. He wrote timeless poems like Li Sao, Nine Chapters, and Heavenly Questions, filled with sorrow and patriotism. He would often walk alone along riverbanks, grieving for his country.

Then came devastating news — Chu’s capital had fallen, and the king had died in a foreign land. Crushed by despair, Qu Yuan wrote his final poem Huai Sha, and on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, he held a stone and leapt into the Miluo River.

When the people learned of his death, they rushed to the river to find his body. To keep the fish away from him, they wrapped rice in bamboo tubes and tossed them into the water. Later, the rice was wrapped in leaves instead — and that became today’s zongzi.

Since then, eating zongzi every year on this day became a tradition. By the Jin dynasty, zongzi was an official festival food; by the Tang dynasty, it became a popular street snack. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, it symbolized good fortune.

Another Dragon Boat Festival tradition is racing dragon boats. People paddle dragon-shaped boats along rivers, originally to ward off evil spirits — but now it also symbolizes unity and determination.

Today, zongzi and dragon boat races are not just festive traditions. They’ve become symbols of Chinese culture and history. This festival isn’t only about food and fun — it’s about honoring a poet who gave his life for his ideals. It reminds us that true cultural values never fade.

If you found Qu Yuan’s story moving, don’t forget to give this video a like — and happy Dragon Boat Festival!