Latest news with #QuYuan
Malaysia Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malaysia Sun
Drumbeats of fitness, tourism echo as dragon boats make waves across China
BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- As May draws to a close, the rhythmic thud of drums and the roar of cheering crowds are once again echoing across rivers and lakes throughout China. Amid splashing water and synchronized chants, dragon boats surge ahead in fierce competition as Chinese people celebrate Duanwu Festival on Saturday this year. For millennia, dragon boat racing has remained at the heart of Duanwu Festival, China's first traditional festival inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This explains why it is better known globally as the Dragon Boat Festival. With origins tied to the death of Qu Yuan, a loyal statesman and patriotic poet from more than 2,000 years ago, this ancient tradition has become a modern phenomenon, boosting the popularity of both public fitness and cultural tourism. In Zhejiang Province on China's eastern coast, this evolution was on full display earlier this week during the region's inaugural farmers' dragon boat invitational, as 12 amateur village teams from across the province gathered in the Yinzhou District of Ningbo City. Yu Youfen, from the neighboring city of Zhoushan, stood on the sidelines, still catching his breath after the 500-meter race. For the past fortnight, his team members had been training after their day jobs. "Some of us work in factories, others in fish farming," the team leader said. "Passion for dragon boat racing gives us a reason to come together, to fight for our community's pride." Among the cheering crowd stood a local resident surnamed Chen. His five-year-old son was perched on his shoulders, shouting with the crowd as another boat sped past. "This is already his fifth time watching dragon boat races," Chen said. "He just told me he wants to join the race one day." Boat racing in Yinzhou dates back more than 2,200 years, as evidenced by the discovery of an ancient bronze axe adorned with an image of men in feathered hats racing boats. At the event, a new provincial training base for village-level dragon boat teams was inaugurated in Yinzhou, in a step toward expanding access and reinforcing grassroots participation in this age-old tradition. The scene in Zhejiang echoes a nationwide surge in mass sports enthusiasm -- a result of China's ongoing efforts to enhance public fitness, seen as a cornerstone of the country's long-term ambition to become a leading sporting nation and build a healthy China. While the most iconic races remain concentrated in the water-rich southern regions, dragon boat activities are gaining traction across the country. According to preliminary estimates, dragon boat races will be held in 25 provinces nationwide during the three-day Duanwu holiday from Saturday to Monday. In south China's Guangdong, long regarded as a stronghold of dragon boat tradition, local races began as early as May 1. Over 100 races are scheduled around the holiday period in the provincial capital of Guangzhou alone. Among the races will be the high-profile 2025 Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament. Set to be held on Sunday, the event, with a history of 40 years, will see the participation of 116 teams and over 4,000 competitors. Seven teams from Russia, the United States, Canada, Malaysia and Kazakhstan are expected to join the action. Meanwhile, in Beijing, the festival is being marked by a sports carnival of over 30 events extending beyond traditional boat racing to include paddleboarding, kayaking and other activities aimed at engaging the public in festive fitness. "The growing popularity of dragon boat racing is expected to attract more people to water sports, helping promote aquatic recreation across China," said Zhai Junshuai, general manager of a water sports club in the northern port city of Tianjin. Zhai also emphasized the potential of this dragon boat racing craze nationwide to invigorate the local economy, which is aligned with China's broader efforts to stimulate domestic consumption. National action plans released in March and April highlighted the integration of sports, culture and tourism as a strategic pillar, calling for more high-quality sports programs and distinctive events. Data from major travel platforms has showcased clear economic ripple effects. Tongcheng Travel reported a 270 percent week-on-week spike in searches for "dragon boat" as of May 19. Data from Group shows significant year-on-year growth in bookings for cities with dragon boat traditions. In Foshan, Guangdong, total travel orders rose 167 percent; in Miluo, Hunan Province, considered by many the birthplace of dragon boat culture, bookings jumped 85 percent. To capitalize on the enthusiasm, Guangzhou plans to host over 650 cultural and tourism events related to dragon boating during the holiday, enriching the city's offerings for visitors. More Chinese people are prioritizing health and leisure amid rising living standards, said Li Peigong, president of Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance. "A combination of sports and travel has become a go-to solution that caters to a wide range of needs." Meanwhile, observers underscore the need to further unleash the nation's sports consumption potential. "It is necessary to broaden access to fitness and sports programs nationwide. And teaching people how to play sports will be the first step to boost sports consumption," said Wang Yuxiong, head of the sports economics research center at Central University of Finance and Economics.
Malaysia Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malaysia Sun
Across China: Drumbeats of fitness, tourism echo as dragon boats make waves across China
BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- As May draws to a close, the rhythmic thud of drums and the roar of cheering crowds are once again echoing across rivers and lakes throughout China. Amid splashing water and synchronized chants, dragon boats surge ahead in fierce competition as Chinese people celebrate Duanwu Festival on Saturday this year. For millennia, dragon boat racing has remained at the heart of Duanwu Festival, China's first traditional festival inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This explains why it is better known globally as the Dragon Boat Festival. With origins tied to the death of Qu Yuan, a loyal statesman and patriotic poet from more than 2,000 years ago, this ancient tradition has become a modern phenomenon, boosting the popularity of both public fitness and cultural tourism. In Zhejiang Province on China's eastern coast, this evolution was on full display earlier this week during the region's inaugural farmers' dragon boat invitational, as 12 amateur village teams from across the province gathered in the Yinzhou District of Ningbo City. Yu Youfen, from the neighboring city of Zhoushan, stood on the sidelines, still catching his breath after the 500-meter race. For the past fortnight, his team members had been training after their day jobs. "Some of us work in factories, others in fish farming," the team leader said. "Passion for dragon boat racing gives us a reason to come together, to fight for our community's pride." Among the cheering crowd stood a local resident surnamed Chen. His five-year-old son was perched on his shoulders, shouting with the crowd as another boat sped past. "This is already his fifth time watching dragon boat races," Chen said. "He just told me he wants to join the race one day." Boat racing in Yinzhou dates back more than 2,200 years, as evidenced by the discovery of an ancient bronze axe adorned with an image of men in feathered hats racing boats. At the event, a new provincial training base for village-level dragon boat teams was inaugurated in Yinzhou, in a step toward expanding access and reinforcing grassroots participation in this age-old tradition. The scene in Zhejiang echoes a nationwide surge in mass sports enthusiasm -- a result of China's ongoing efforts to enhance public fitness, seen as a cornerstone of the country's long-term ambition to become a leading sporting nation and build a healthy China. While the most iconic races remain concentrated in the water-rich southern regions, dragon boat activities are gaining traction across the country. According to preliminary estimates, dragon boat races will be held in 25 provinces nationwide during the three-day Duanwu holiday from Saturday to Monday. In south China's Guangdong, long regarded as a stronghold of dragon boat tradition, local races began as early as May 1. Over 100 races are scheduled around the holiday period in the provincial capital of Guangzhou alone. Among the races will be the high-profile 2025 Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament. Set to be held on Sunday, the event, with a history of 40 years, will see the participation of 116 teams and over 4,000 competitors. Seven teams from Russia, the United States, Canada, Malaysia and Kazakhstan are expected to join the action. Meanwhile, in Beijing, the festival is being marked by a sports carnival of over 30 events extending beyond traditional boat racing to include paddleboarding, kayaking and other activities aimed at engaging the public in festive fitness. "The growing popularity of dragon boat racing is expected to attract more people to water sports, helping promote aquatic recreation across China," said Zhai Junshuai, general manager of a water sports club in the northern port city of Tianjin. Zhai also emphasized the potential of this dragon boat racing craze nationwide to invigorate the local economy, which is aligned with China's broader efforts to stimulate domestic consumption. National action plans released in March and April highlighted the integration of sports, culture and tourism as a strategic pillar, calling for more high-quality sports programs and distinctive events. Data from major travel platforms has showcased clear economic ripple effects. Tongcheng Travel reported a 270 percent week-on-week spike in searches for "dragon boat" as of May 19. Data from Group shows significant year-on-year growth in bookings for cities with dragon boat traditions. In Foshan, Guangdong, total travel orders rose 167 percent; in Miluo, Hunan Province, considered by many the birthplace of dragon boat culture, bookings jumped 85 percent. To capitalize on the enthusiasm, Guangzhou plans to host over 650 cultural and tourism events related to dragon boating during the holiday, enriching the city's offerings for visitors. More Chinese people are prioritizing health and leisure amid rising living standards, said Li Peigong, president of Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance. "A combination of sports and travel has become a go-to solution that caters to a wide range of needs." Meanwhile, observers underscore the need to further unleash the nation's sports consumption potential. "It is necessary to broaden access to fitness and sports programs nationwide. And teaching people how to play sports will be the first step to boost sports consumption," said Wang Yuxiong, head of the sports economics research center at Central University of Finance and Economics.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Qu Yuan, Chinese patriot whose death is said to have inspired Dragon Boat Festival customs
This weekend many people celebrate the Duanwu Festival, also known as the Tuen Ng Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival. The festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the traditional Chinese calendar, is observed by Chinese all over the world, as well as by Japanese, Koreans, Ryukyuans (or Okinawans) and Vietnamese. The festival has long been associated with the poet Qu Yuan (342–278BC). It is because of him, the legend goes, that we row dragon boats and eat zongzi, sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves , during the festival. The only problem with this story is that the Duanwu Festival, or at least many of its customs, predate Qu. At some point in time, the Chinese probably appropriated him and events in his life, eventually putting Qu at the centre of the ancient festival. In a similar way, the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ were melded into pre-Christian festivals to give us our Christmas and Easter weekends. Qu Yuan, a poet and court adviser during the Warring States Period in ancient China, died by drowning himself in a river in 278BC. Qu was a patriot and brilliant poet in ancient China. Born into one of the noble families of the southern Chu state during the Warring States period, he served King Huai of Chu as a trusted adviser. He advocated alliances with other states to counter the expansionist ambitions of the powerful Qin state in the west. However, his reformist ideas and personal integrity provoked the envy and opposition of his rivals at the royal court, which led to his eventual exile.
Time Out
7 days ago
- Time Out
10 Things you might not know about the Dragon Boat Festival
1. Modern dragon boating began in Hong Kong If you've heard about the origin legend of this festival and the Zhou dynasty scholar Qu Yuan, then you'll know that dragon boats are by no means new. However, the modern dragon boat races that fill our waters actually originated in Hong Kong around 40 years ago. Our city held the first international dragon boat race back in 1976, which became the basis of this annual sport in the modern day. 2. It is often done as a team building activity in Hong Kong Multinational companies and larger organisations in Hong Kong often form dragon boating teams and sign them up for races during this season. Practice sessions can take up to 16 weeks leading up to the races, and the sport itself relies heavily on everyone working together seamlessly, so it's a great way for co-workers to bond, improve on collaboration, and get a workout in at the same time. 3. Tai O has its own variation Aside from an energetic race, the Dragon Boat Festival in the sleepy village of Tai O also consists of a special water parade. According to local folklore, Tai O was hit by a plague approximately a century ago and the villagers invoked the protection of the gods by sailing their statues around the village. It supposedly worked, since the tradition has been kept to this day. On the morning before the Dragon Boat Festival, representatives of the fishermen's associations will row their dragon boats to visit four temples in the village and collect statues of the gods from each location. The day of the festival itself will see the deity statues paraded through Tai O's waters on sacred sampans towed by dragon boats, invoking blessings for peace and wellbeing. This parade was inscribed in the list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011. 4. The date doesn't actually change every year Well, not on the Chinese calendar anyway. While the Dragon Boat Festival does fall on a different date every year on the Western Gregorian calendar, this holiday actually occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month every year on the Chinese Lunar calendar. Due to numerous legends and the date's concurrence with the annual flood period and midsummer – a time when insects and bacteria tend to spread quickly – people considered this day to be a time of misfortune and adopted several customs to ward off bad luck and pray for good fortune. 5. The sticky rice dumpling didn't originate with the Dragon Boat Festival There are many stories about how rice dumplings, aka zongzi, came about, with the most famous one being Qu Yan's death. However, some argue that this widely known legend is not the true origin. In the agricultural society of ancient China, rice placed in cattle horns were used as a sacrifice, and it is said that rice dumplings were originally called jiao shu ('jiao' means horn, and 'shu' grains). As time progressed, these horns were replaced with leaves shaped like horns due to economic reasons – and thus, rice dumplings were born. 6. Some form of drinking is always involved Not that we ever need an excuse to drink up, but alcohol consumption is very much a traditional custom that is practised during the holiday. When the festival rolls around, people break out the realgar wine, a Chinese cereal wine mixed with powdered realgar (an arsenic sulfide mineral). The concoction is believed to be an effective antidote against mosquitoes, poison, disease, and evil spirits. Wish we could say the same about vodka tonics! 7. Dragon boat racing has taken over the world The only sport celebrated with a public holiday in Hong Kong, dragon boat racing is now an internationally recognised sport. Today, it is practised in more than 50 countries, with competitions held around the world such as Singapore, Taiwan, the UK, Australia, and more. In fact, it is seeking full Olympic recognition as an official competitive category, having been a demonstration sport at both the 2020 Tokyo and 2025 Paris Olympics. 8. If you think you've tried every variation of the zong, think again There are more than 20 variations of sticky rice dumplings in China alone. While it might take you some time to travel around different regions to sample them all, there are plenty of varieties to try in Hong Kong alone. You can go for ones with sweet fillings like red bean paste, dates, and melons, or dumplings with savoury ingredients such as salted egg, roast pork, and dried shrimp. Some also offer flavours with a modern twist like truffle sauce, crab meat, or even sweet potato. 9. The festival is listed in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Prior to South Korea nominating the Gangneung Danoje Festival (a festival also celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month) as an intangible cultural heritage property to UNESCO's list, the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival was not formally under UNESCO's protection. South Korea's move to nominate its own festival in 2005 sparked an uproar amongst the Chinese over the festival's origin. Later in 2009, the Dragon Boat Festival was eventually added to the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List. 10. Egg-balancing is a thing Did you know that in ancient times, Chinese people believed that balancing an egg would bring them good luck? According to tradition, the best time to try this feat was at noon during the Dragon Boat Festival. Although reasons for this belief are not entirely clear, some studies suggest that the gravitational pull between the sun and the earth is strongest at this time, thus making it easier for an egg to stand on its tip.
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Cape Town Dragon Boat Festival: A celebration of diversity, Chinese culture and dragon boat racing
Cape Town Dragon Boat Association hosts the Cultures of China Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday at the V&A Waterfront. Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Newspapers Not only did scores of people from Cape Town's Chinese community show up for this year's "Cultures of China - Cape Town Dragon Boat Festival" celebrations at Battery Park on the V&A Waterfront, but so did locals. Traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu) commemorates Qu Yuan, the devoted statesman and poet from the Warring States period, whose legacy lives on through spirited boat races and the sharing of sticky rice dumplings, or zongzi. Building on last year's success, several enthusiastic paddlers competed. Competitors battled in 100-metre and 500-metre sprints, with a tug-of-war race on the water adding extra excitement. On Saturday, spectators lined the Battery Park shoreline to cheer on the crews and enjoyed cultural performances, traditional music, and a showcase of Chinese heritage throughout the afternoon. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Chairperson of the Cape Town Dragon Boat Association, Igsaan Salie, said that dragon boating has been in the city since around the 90s, however, their partnership with the Chinese community over the last three years has enabled 'a phenomenal change' in terms of scope. 'It's fantastic – when it comes to food, decorations, and just overall gees (atmosphere). It just became a whole new thing, and it went up a whole bunch of levels. 'When we participate at the marina and those places, it's great, but it's not on the same level as the festival in terms of the turnout, the enthusiasm, and all of that - and the guys love it,' Salie said. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and the Chinese Consul General in Cape Town, You Wenze, were also in attendance at the festival. The mayor got to experience and enjoy all that the Chinese community had to offer. Hill-Lewis was given a tour around the festival by the Consul General, and he also got his hands dirty competing in a few games, and even testing how good his aim was at basketball. The festival also included an exhilarating dragon boat race in which Hill-Lewis and Wenze participated alongside the various dragon boat clubs in Cape Town. The festival also included an exhilarating dragon boat race in which Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Chinese Consul General in Cape Town, You Wenze, participated alongside the various Dragon Boat clubs in Cape Town. Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Newspapers Despite ending up with his shirt and pants soaked in water, Hill-Lewis said that he loved it and that it was very fun. 'I love participating in events like this. It's always fun just to get involved, to try and experience it for yourself. 'So I must say, it's the first time I've ever put foot on a dragon boat, and I loved it. It was great fun. 'I really got into the gees and got competitive, as I always do,' he said. 'And I was pleased to win.' The mayor said that such events are very lovely as Cape Town has a significant Chinese community, and he noted that there's a risk of the communities keeping to themselves. 'Events that bring people out of their homes, bring people together, and let you experience Chinese food like the ones I tasted, and let you experience some beautiful tea, some Chinese medicine, games, the lovely Dragon Boat Festival, you name it, are very important.' Wenze said the event allows for a cultural exchange and enables people-to-people understanding. 'The Dragon Boat Festival has a long history, about more than 2,000 years. So it's great to see the Chinese community, together with the local communities, and some international tourists, when they come together to celebrate this traditional Chinese festival. 'It's great as it speaks to the diversity of cultures… You can see a lot of Chinese food and Chinese culture. So this is a very colourful, very splendid event.' The mayor was given a tour around the festival by the Consul General, and he also got his hands dirty competing in a few games, and even testing how good his aim was at basketball. Image: Theolin Tembo Dr Iris Wu, co-director of the Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine at the University of the Western Cape, Chinese Consul General in Cape Town, You Wenze, and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. Image: Theolin Tembo/Independent Newspapers Speaking about the boat racing, Wenze said that it is great to see the unity, the coordination, and how people are sitting in the same boat, having to paddle through the water at the same time. Salie added that the clubs do enjoy putting on the show and having a good time. He said that their most active clubs are at the V&A Waterfront and Century City. 'It's Monday through Friday, where we've got clubs on the water after five, so between those two places, it's one of those things where you stand on the side and you can just say, can I get on? And in most cases, you'll get signed up. 'It's a participation sport where they are keen to get new paddlers on board, and just having people see what it is, is a big step in the right direction for us, because it's almost not understood. 'They're like, okay, is it like canoeing? Is it like kayaking? Is it like supping? Is it like whatever? But it's not, it's 20 people working together towards the same goal. And it's phenomenal.'
