BACKGROUND
The Duanwu customs of Qu Yuan's hometown were inscribed on China's first national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2006, and in 2009 became an integral part of the Dragon Boat Festival inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. For over two millennia, Zigui has sustained a rich cultural tapestry where solemn water libations, dragon boat sprinting, and vernacular poetry seamlessly intertwine: from casting zongzi into the Yangtze whirlpools to village citrus farmers composing metered classical poems in the historic Sao Tan Poetry Society.
WHERE TO SEE IT
- The Qu Yuan Hometown Cultural Tourism Area in Zigui hosts major annual Duanwu festivals featuring grand memorial ceremonies, Three Gorges dragon boat championships, and live heritage showcases around the 5th lunar month.
- Opposite the Three Gorges Dam, the Maoping Qu Yuan Shrine houses a dedicated Duanwu Folk Museum exhibiting historic dragon boat crafts, sacrificial texts, and rare woodblock poetry collections.
- Attending the main race days along the Zigui riverfront requires advance transit and ferry bookings due to high seasonal traveler demand.
Hanging Mugwort and Sprinkling Realgar
Fresh dew-drenched mugwort and calamus are hung on timber doorframes at dawn, while indoor rooms are purified with incense and realgar wine to dispel summer pests and disease.
Wrapping Four-Cornered Zongzi
Fragrant wild reed leaves and glutinous rice are wrapped into sharp four-cornered dumplings, each enclosing a whole red date symbolizing poet Qu Yuan's undivided loyalty. The first batch is offered to ancestral shrines and river currents.
Solemn Spirit-Calling River Rite
Draped in red silk with painted eyes, dragon boats drift slowly down the gorge before racing. Master steersmen chant the ancient Soul-Summoning Hymn while rowers splash the water in solemn rhythm.
Simultaneous Racing and Verse Recitation
As the starting gun sounds, dozens of wooden craft shoot across the churning river amidst thunderous drums; ashore, elder farmer-poets brush new classical couplets on parchment, uniting physical vigor with literary reverence.
