Dragon Boat World Cup in Zigui County

Yichang hosts its first Dragon Boat World Cup in Zigui County between June 19 and 23

In 2023, the Dragon Boat Festival will fall on June 22. Dragon boating, the activity from which the Festival takes its name, is traditionally held during the festivities.
 

The festival has ancient Chinese origins in honor of Qu Yuan. Born in Yichang, Qu is one of China’s most famous poets and patriots, dating back more than 2,000 years. Following the news that Qu had ended his life by jumping into the Miluo River in 278 BC, local people were distraught. They paddled out in boats in an attempt to save the poet or at least recover his body. They threw sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves (called zongzi) into the water to lure fish away from eating his body.

Since then, the Dragon Boat Festival has been held every year to commemorate his unyielding spirit. The dragon boats symbolize the race to save Qu.

Video by 秭归文旅