Competitors row a dragon boat during a race in the Taohuatan Scenic Area of Jingxian county, East China's Anhui Province, June 1, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

2. Dragon boat racing

Dragon boat racing is an indispensable part of the festival with the boats so named because the fore and stern are in the shape of a Chinese dragon.

Legend has it that the race originates from the idea that people rowed boats to seek Qu Yuan's body after he drowned.