The festival is celebrated at the fifth of the fifth lunar calendar. In this day, Chinese people will eat Zongzi and hold Dragon Boat race in honor of the great poet Qu Yuan during the Warring States Period (475 B.C.—221 B.C.). Qu was upright, loyal and highly respected for his wise counsel for the peace and affluence of Chu State as its minister. However, he was vilified by the evil power in the state. Filled with disappointment, Qu committed his suicide by jumping off into the Milou River. The nearby fishermen tried in vain to find his body. Afterwards, State Chu declined and was eventually conquered by the State Qin.

The Chu people mourned for this elegant patriot and threw the Zongzi into the river to feed the spirit of Qu, and the custom of making and eating Zongzi has preserved until now. In addition, fishermen’s rescue attempts gradually evolved into the Dragon Boat Race.