Dragon Boat Festival now has ‘World Heritage’ status
Qu Yuan was a patriotic poet who lived in 300 BC. He jumped into the Miluo River in northeast Hunan province to prove his loyalty to his home country, and was drowned. The Dragon Boat Festival, which is held to commemorate Qu Yuan on lunar May 5 every year (this year June 16 in the western calendar), is an important traditional holiday in China. But this year, the Dragon Boat Festival held even more significance for all Chinese.
In September 2009, the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization honored the Dragon Boat Festival as a World Intangible Heritage. The Dragon Boat Festival, which includes racing boats, eating zongzi dumplings and observing other folk customs, is the first festival in the history of China to be named a World Intangible Heritage.
Read more in this China Daily article.