The Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese calendar.

       For thousands of years, the festival has been marked by eating zong zi （glutinous ricewrapped to form a pyramid using bamboo or reed leaves）and racing dragon boats.

     The festival is best known for its dragon-boat races, especially in the southern provinces where there are many rivers and lakes.                 Thisregattacommemorates the death of Qu Yuan , an honest minister who is said to have committed suicide by drowning himself in a river. The dragon-boat races symbolize the many attempts to rescue and recover Qu's body.

       A typical dragon boat ranges from 50-100 feet in length, with a beam of about 5.5 feet, accommodating two paddlers seated side by side.