The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional holiday to show respect to the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan. The festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese calendar. This year, the festival is held on the 18th of June. To celebrate the festival, people love eating rice dumplings and race dragon boats. Both of these activities are worth a try, so check out some more details below.
In the Dragon Boat race, participants paddle traditional Hong Kong boats aptly called Dragon Boats, as there is the head of a dragon at the front and back of the boat. If you are interested in watching a Dragon Boat race, feel free to visit the Dragon Boat Carnival held on Victoria Harbour. You can watch the race along the promenade on both sides of the harbour. Moreover, there are the beer tents, game booths, traditional food and kids’ zone along the waterfront and near the Observation Wheel for your greatest pleasure.
Besides joining the carnival, you should also try to eat rice dumplings. It is made of glutinous rice stuffed with various fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. By boiling or steaming these rice dumpling, you can get a really good smell of the leaves and the filling inside.
Traditional festival is a good chance for you to experience the Hong Kong culture. Take a break, enjoy the festivities the Dragon Boat Festival offers and get a little more insights about Hong Kong culture.