Warring States period (5th–3rd century BCE)
traditional sports
UNESCO Intangible Heritage
South China
active
Dragon boat racing is a traditional water sport where teams of paddlers race in long, narrow boats decorated as dragons. A drummer sits at the front setting the pace, while a steerer navigates from the rear. The sport originated in southern China over 2,000 years ago and is central to Dragon Boat Festival celebrations. Today it has become a global sport practiced in over 80 countries.
Stories & Legends
Qu Yuan and the Dragon Boat Festival
legendQu Yuan was a loyal minister and poet of the Chu State during the Warring States period. After being exiled by a corrupt court, he drowned himself in the Miluo River in protest. Local fishermen raced out in boats to save him, beating drums to scare away fish and throwing zongzi into the water to feed his spirit. This is the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival.
The Dragon Boat Festival: Memory, River, Nation
historicalA poet's sacrifice became a nation's memory, celebrated every summer.
Related Places
Related Festivals
Relationship Constellation
This heritage item connects to 11 entities across the atlas — masters, places, festivals, and stories.
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