Dragon Boat Races in Sichuan

15. Dragon Boat

In memory of the great patriot poet Qu Yuan of the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), Dragon Boat Regattas are held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. This festival honors the virtuous third-century poet-reformer who despaired at the futility of his efforts at reform, jumped into the Miluo River and drowned himself. Fishermen paddled furiously but in vain to save him. Today racers recreate the heroic effort. Here the coxswain shouts out the strokes to his straining crew in a race on the Miluo River in Hunan province, the site of the original event. It is very important for the crews for the honor of winning in these competitions.