The Dragon Boat Festival — Duanwu (端午节) in Chinese — is one of China's most important traditional holidays, famous for its thrilling dragon boat races and sticky-rice zongzi dumplings. It falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month; in 2026 that's in mid-June. Here's the legend behind it.
See the Dragon Boat Festival holiday page for the exact date, or China's holiday calendar.
The legend of Qu Yuan
The most popular story behind the festival honours Qu Yuan (c. 340–278 BCE), a patriotic poet and minister of the ancient state of Chu. According to legend, when his kingdom fell to a rival, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair.
Local people who admired him raced out in boats to try to save him — the origin of dragon boat racing. To stop fish from eating his body, they threw rice into the river — said to be the origin of zongzi.
What is zongzi?
Zongzi (粽子) are pyramid-shaped parcels of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, filled with things like pork, beans, or dates (sweet and savoury versions vary by region). Making and eating zongzi is the festival's signature food tradition.
How it's celebrated
- Dragon boat races — long, narrow boats with a dragon's head and tail, paddled to the beat of a drum.
- Eating zongzi.
- Hanging mugwort and calamus on doors and wearing perfumed pouches, traditionally to ward off illness and bad luck (the festival falls near the start of summer).
Why the date changes each year
Because Duanwu is fixed to the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, its date in the Gregorian calendar varies each year, usually falling in late May or June. Check the holiday page for the exact date.
Quick answers
What is the Dragon Boat Festival? A traditional Chinese holiday (Duanwu) marked by dragon boat races and zongzi rice dumplings, on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.
Who was Qu Yuan? An ancient Chinese poet and minister whose legendary drowning is the most popular origin story of the festival.
What is zongzi? Glutinous rice parcels wrapped in bamboo leaves, the festival's signature food.
When is the Dragon Boat Festival 2026? It falls in mid-June 2026 — see the holiday page for the exact date.