Welcome to our Culture Village

In our village, all different celebrations and cultural events occur throughout the year.  It's time to celebrate DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL.  We hope you will enjoy a glimpse of this exotic scene.

Dragon Boat Festival

Every May 5th (June 8, 2008) of Chinese calendar is the Dragon Boat Festival. On this day, Chinese people eat Zongzi (sticky rice with meat or dates wrapped in bamboo leaves) and race dragon boats to celebrate.

The Festival is based on a very old story. It was said that about 2000 years ago, there was a famous patriotic poet whose name was Qu Yuan. He submitted the King his suggestions of political reforms to protect the country. But the King thought he was a traitor. He refused to implement any of the suggestions and exiled Qu Yuan. Shortly thereafter, Qin (the First Emperor) overthrew the King. Qu Yuan despaired over the defeat of his homeland. He jumped into Bo Luo River ( Hubei Province, southern China) and killed himself on May 5th, 278 B.C.

People were so sadden by his death. They made Zongzi and threw them in the river to protect Qu Yuan's body from being eaten by fishes. They drove boats to search Qu Yuan's body. Since then, every year on May 5th, people came to the river where Qu Yuan died to memorize him by racing dragon boats and dumping Zongzi into the river. Gradually, this tradition spread to the rest of China.

If you visit Canton or Hong Kong around this time of the year, you will have a chance to watch the Nationwide Dragon Boat Racing Championship Games.

Zong Zi          

Want to send a greeting card to your friends celebrating Dragon Boat Festival? Please check out:    Dragon Boat Festival Greeting Cards, Ecards From 123Greetings.com