Lilly Friedman
Dragon boat racing is a traditional Chinese watercraft activity that has been practised for over 2,000 years. The races are held annually to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a beloved prime minister of the southern Chinese state of Chu during the Warring States period. The races typically start in the morning and go on till late afternoon or early evening.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 5th day of the 5th Chinese lunar month (late May or early June) |
| Time | Races run from 9 am to 4:30 pm each day |
| Location | Varies; examples include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Singapore |
| Boat Composition | 18-20 people in a standard boat, 8-10 in a small boat, 1 steerer, 1 drummer |
| Boat Length | Medium-sized boats: 38 feet (11.5 meters); Large boats: up to 90 feet (27.4 meters) |
| Boat Width and Depth | Varies depending on length, purpose, and crew number |
| Boat Building Materials | Teak wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, pine wood, cedar wood |
| Boat Decoration | Rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails |
What You'll Learn
Dragon Boat Festival in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon, hosts an annual Dragon Boat Festival, organised by DragonSports USA, a Portland non-profit organisation with 2,500 members who paddle recreationally and competitively all year round. The festival, which has been running for over 25 years, is a family-friendly event featuring dragon boat racing, food and merchandise vendors, a beer garden, and 500-metre races on the Willamette River in Downtown Portland.
The festival takes place over two days in September, from 9 am to 4:30 pm each day. The races begin on Saturday morning at 9 am, with the Portland Fire Department opening the race by spraying water into the sky from their fireboat along the racecourse. The races feature four-team heats held every nine minutes, with over 40 teams from Oregon, Washington, and California competing in traditional-style Dragon Boats from Taiwan. The teams include the Golden Dragons, a team of paddlers aged 55 and over with an average age of 72, and several cancer survivor teams, including Portland's Pink Phoenix Breast Cancer Survivor team.
The festival is held at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, with an opening ceremony on Saturday at 8 am. The races run from 8:30 am to around 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday, with an awards ceremony at 3:30 pm on Sunday. The races are an exciting Chinese tradition that has been brought to Portland for over two decades, beginning in 1989. The Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association (PKSCA), founded in 1987, has presented the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race annually. The mission of the PKSCA is to promote people-to-people exchanges of educational, artistic, and cultural activities and to promote Portland and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to the world.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a great way to wrap up the summer festivities in Portland, with an invigorating atmosphere and fun outdoor community activities for families and participants alike.
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Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Tuen Ng Festival, is a highly anticipated event in the city's calendar. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in May or June. In 2024, the festival took place on 10 June, with races spanning from 8 to 16 June.
The Dragon Boat Festival has a rich history and cultural significance in Hong Kong. It is believed to have originated as a tribute to Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister from the ancient state of Chu in China. Over 2,000 years ago, Qu Yuan was banished from the capital due to his opposition to an alliance between Chu and another state, Qin. During his exile, he wrote numerous poems expressing his sorrow and love for his homeland. When Qin invaded and captured Chu's capital, Qu Yuan, in despair, committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River.
The local people, admiring Qu Yuan's dedication to his country, raced their boats in an attempt to save him or retrieve his body. They also beat drums and threw packets of rice into the river to distract the fish from eating his body. This led to the traditions of dragon boat racing and eating rice dumplings, known as "zongzi", that are still observed during the festival today.
In Hong Kong, the Dragon Boat Festival is both a religious activity and a modern sporting event. The fishermen from the village of Tai O organise a dragon boat water parade, visiting four temples and carrying the statues of four gods to pray for peace and good health. This religious tradition dates back centuries. Since 1976, dragon boat racing has also become a thrilling sports event in Hong Kong, attracting participants and spectators from around the world.
The dragon boats themselves are built in the shape of massive war canoes and can vary in size, accommodating crews of 20 to 80 people. Each boat features a decorative dragon head at the front, a stylised dragon tail at the stern, and painted dragon scales along the sides. The crew paddles in unison to the beat of a drummer sitting in the middle of the boat. The races are not only about competition but also about creating an exciting and festive atmosphere.
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is a vibrant and energetic celebration, attracting participants and spectators from all over the world. With its unique blend of tradition, culture, and sports, it has become an integral part of Hong Kong's annual calendar.
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Guizhou Dragon Canoe Festival
The Guizhou Dragon Canoe Festival is one of the four important traditional festivals of the Miao people, celebrated in Shidong, Guizhou Province. The festival is held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, which corresponds to late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar.
The festival is a colourful and exuberant event, with dragon boat races as the main attraction. Dragon boats are human-powered wooden watercraft decorated in the form of a Chinese dragon. The boats vary in size, with crews ranging from 20 to 60 paddlers, a drummer, and a steerer. The drummer leads the paddlers by beating rhythmically on a drum, while the steerer helps to navigate the boat with a long steering oar.
In addition to the races, the Guizhou Dragon Canoe Festival also features canoe races and post-race events. The festival is a celebration of the Miao culture and heritage, attracting about 30,000 participants.
The Dragon Canoe Festival has a rich history and significance for the Miao people. It is believed to have originated as a totem ceremony, with the dragon as the main symbol. The festival is also associated with the ancient poet and minister Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River. According to legend, the local people raced out in their boats to save him or retrieve his body, which is said to be the origin of dragon boat races.
The festival is a time for the Miao people to come together, enjoy the outdoors, and take part in traditional activities. It is a celebration of their culture and heritage, passed down through generations.
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Hangzhou Dragon Boat Festival
The Hangzhou Dragon Boat Festival is an annual event held in the city of Hangzhou, China. The festival takes place at the Xixi National Wetland Park, one of Hangzhou's 'three Xi's', and combines Chinese folk traditions with the Olympic spirit. The date of the festival varies each year as it is celebrated according to the Chinese lunar calendar, falling on the fifth day of the fifth month, which is usually in June. In 2025, the festival will be held on May 31st.
The festival centres around dragon boat racing, a tradition with a history of over 2,000 years that originated from the worship of nature and totemism in Chinese culture. Dragon boats are typically decorated with a dragon head at the front and a tail at the back, with paddlers sitting in pairs, a steersperson, and a drummer. The races are not only a sporting event but also a communal ritual that strengthens bonds and celebrates cultural heritage.
In addition to the boat races, the Hangzhou Dragon Boat Festival also features various other activities and performances. These include a competition for making zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), as well as performances of Chinese folk singing and Shaoxing Opera. Visitors can also enjoy tea in a tea pavilion, visit the Dragon Boat Exhibition Hall to learn about carving dragon heads, and take a cruise on the UNESCO-listed West Lake.
The festival attracts both local and international visitors, with tour packages available from travel agencies. It is a popular event that showcases the unique culture and traditions of Hangzhou and is expected to draw a large crowd, especially as it overlaps with the annual national college entrance examination in China.
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Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival
The Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival is an annual event held in Long Beach, California. The festival celebrates the ancient tradition of dragon boat racing, which has its roots in a folk ritual that has been practised in southern China for over 2,000 years. The boats are typically made of teak and adorned with dragon heads and tails.
The 2025 festival will be held at the Marine Stadium in Long Beach on July 26 from 9 am to 6 pm. The stadium has a rich history of water sports, having hosted the 1932 Olympic Rowing competition and the 1968 Olympic rowing trials. The Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival is one of the largest dragon boat competitions in California and will feature races, Chinese traditional art demonstrations, Chinese Acrobats, traditional dance, hip hop, music, and martial arts performances.
Dragon boat racing is an amateur water sport that has emerged as an international sport in modern times. The boats are long and sleek, powered by many rowers with oars, and raced competitively in events like the Asian Games. Dragon boat competitions are also held annually in China and elsewhere to honour the life and death of the ancient poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC).
The exact schedule of races for the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival will be available on the event website closer to the date. The event is hosted by the Southern California Dragon Boat Club (SCDBC), which follows the rules and regulations of several organisations, including the International Collegiate Dragon Boat Federation (ICDBF) and the United States Collegiate Dragon Boat Club (USCDBC).
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Frequently asked questions
The start time for dragon boat races can vary depending on the event and location. Some races may start as early as 9 AM and continue until the afternoon or early evening.
Dragon boat races are often held during the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese calendar, usually corresponding to late May or early June.
Dragon boat racing has its roots in ancient folk rituals and ceremonies from southern China, dating back over 2,000 years.
The number of crew members can vary depending on the size of the boat. A standard dragon boat typically has around 18-20 paddlers, while smaller boats may have 8-10.
Dragon boat races are often associated with the legend of Qu Yuan, a beloved prime minister and poet from the southern Chinese state of Chu. The races are said to represent the attempts to rescue and recover his body after he drowned himself in a river.
