TheDragonBoatFestivalalsocalledtheDuanwuFestlval,iscelebratedonthefifthdayofthefifthmonthaccordingtotheChinesecalendar.Forthousandsofyears,thefestivalhasbeenmarkedbyeatingzongziandracingdragonboats.ToholdthedragonboatracesisinmemoryofQuYuan,oneofthegreatestpoetsinChina.
QuYuanwasborninZiguiofHubeiprovinceover2,200yearsago.QuYuanwasanhonestministeroftheStateofChu,duringtheWarringStatesPeriod(475—221BC)。Hewasuprightandwise.Hewantedtobringhiscountrypeaceandmakethestatemorestronger,butthecountrywasinthehandsofbadofficials,hefailed.Atlast,hewasverydiscouraged,heendedhislifebythrowinghimselfintotheMiluoRiver.Itwassaidthatpeoplejumpedfromtheboatintotheriverandtriedtosavehim.Butitwastoolate.Also,theywereverysadandtheythrewriceintothewatertofeedQuYuan'sspirit.
NowwereadhispoemLiSaowhithwasfilledwithdeeploveforhiscountry.WecanseethedragonboatracesandhaveakindofChinesefoodnamedzongzitoeatduringtheDragonBoatFestival.