Dragon Boat Festival: The journey to Shanxi

Shanxi province has a rich history and culture with the reputation of 5,000 years of culture. It is located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. There are not only ancient buildings and beautiful scenery, but you can also see folk festivals with local features.

Zongzi are the main symbol of the Dragon Boat Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival is an ancient Chinese traditional festival beginning in the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States period.

There are also many origins and legends about the festival. The most widely circulated is to commemorate Qu Yuan. In 340 BC, Qu Yuan was facing the pain of losing his homeland. Later he drowned himself in the Miluo River on May 5. The people of Chu were very sad. They were afraid the fish and shrimp in the Miluo River would eat Qu Yuan’s body. People wrapped chinaberry leaves around rice and put them into the river for the fish and shrimp to eat. Later, this kind of meal evolved into zongzi. Since then, every year on May 5 people eat zongzi and race one another in dragon boats in order to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.