What is it?                                                                                                 

Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival and the Double Fifth, is a traditional and statutory holiday in China and has long been celebrated in Singapore and Malaysia. The festival is held in remembrance of Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese scholar-statesman, who drowned in 277 B.C. while denouncing widespread government corruption; it was also a means of reminding the public about the importance of health care. In 2006, the tradtional festival was listed as one of China's national intangible cultural heritages. In 2008, it was recognised as a public holiday in Chinese mainland.

The festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar. This is the source of the alternative name of Double Fifth. The date varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. In 2012 it fell on June 23, and in 2013 on June 12. The focus of the celebrations includes eating zongzi (dumplings made of glutinous rice flour), drinking realgar wine and racing dragon boats.

What is its importance?                                                                           

How is it celebrated?                                                                                 

Travel guide for Dragon Boat Festival

The Festival is around the corner. Here we have worked out 8 great places for you to enjoy your holiday.

Heights of fortune

Ancient superstitions about the numerology of the Festival's date continues to inspire Chinese to climb mountains on this day.

Dragon Boat Festival celebrations

People across the nation have various celebrations to embrace the Festival which falls on June 12,2013.

 Traditional ties that bind

For those Chinese live in other countries, Duanwu is a yearly tradition. Pauline D. Loh explores the links between heart and home.

Day of the Dumpling

Meet and eat the top contender at every dragon boat festival since ancient times.

Savory bundles of tradition

In the markets and on the Web, the sale of zongzi, or rice dumplings, is now white hot, with the Duanwu Festival just around the corner.

Taking the dragon out of the dumplings

The time-intensive art of making healthier dumplings affords cross-generational as well as health benefits.

Honoring a poet patriot

Duanwu, popularly known as Dragon Boat Festival, will be upon us soon. Pauline D Loh reflects on its legends and traditions.

Latest news                                                                                                  

Dragon Boat Festival celebrations heat up

Various celebrations are going on as the Dragon Boat Festival nears.

Qu Yuan's hometown prepares for Duanwu Festival

People in Zigui, the hometown of Qu Yuan, prepare to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu Festival in June 12 this year.

International students learn to make zongzi

Several international students gathered at the community near their school in Qinhuangdao to learn how to make zongzi and experience the traditional culture of China. 

Golden Chinese zongzi lures consumers

This year, the golden zongzi appeared earlier in the market. Due to the recent gold market slump and the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, the golden zongzi have achieved good sales.

Ancient dwellings rebuilt into Duanwu Festival gallery

Prior to storing water at the Three Gorges Dam in Hubei province, a cultural relics protection zone was built at the Mount Phoenix scenic area in Zigui county, located across from the dam. 

There is a place called Qu village located in Zhanghua city, Taiwan province that has over two hundred people who have the surname Qu.

New dragon boat launched at Shangjiao village in Guangzhou

Villagers have a trial run of their new dragon boat during a launching ceremony at the Chenhanhui Shipyard at Shangjiao village in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, June 6, 2013.

Dragon boats race on Qinhuai River in Nanjing

Participants compete in a dragon boat race during a dragon boat carnival on the Qinhuai River in Nanjing.