Dragon Boat Racing

Date : June
Place : Hong Kong, China
Famous For : Boat Race
Attractions : Dragon Boats

The Dragon Boat Racing is one of the oldest festivals observed in the world. It traces its origin way back in China over 2000 years ago and is rendered as a popular traditional Chinese festival. The Dragon boat races are a part of the annual Duanwu Festival or Duen Ng, organized in China. The name "dragon Boat Racing" evolved from the fact that 19th century European observers couldn't understand the significance of Duen Ng and referred it as a "Dragon Boat Festival".

Major Attractions

The main attraction of this festival are the dragon boatsm which are traditionally made of teak wood and is a paddled water craft. These boats are now used in the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing held annually as an international sport in Hong Kong in 1976. The boats are generally rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails. Dragonboat festival racing is observed and celebrated in many areas of east Asia like Singapore, Malaysia, Riau Islands and Greater China. It's held generally during the month of June (can be May or July also), depending upon the fifth lunar month of Chinese calender. The date is referred to as the "double fifth" since Duen Ng is reckoned as the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The importance of Dragon boat racing in China can be estimated from the fact that, Chinese government added Duen Ng, Qingming and Mid-Autumn festivals to the schedule of national holidays in 2007.