Duanwu Festival celebrated with festive activities across China-Xinhua

A drone photo taken on June 18, 2026 shows people competing in a dragon boat race in the sea areas of Tailu Town of Lianjiang County, Fuzhou of southeast China's Fujian Province. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival falls on June 19 this year. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

People compete in a dragon boat race on Shanggan section of the Taojiang River in Minhou County, Fuzhou of southeast China's Fujian Province, June 18, 2026. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival falls on June 19 this year. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 18, 2026 shows people competing in a dragon boat race in the sea areas of Tailu Town of Lianjiang County, Fuzhou of southeast China's Fujian Province. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival falls on June 19 this year. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of a cultural event marking the Duanwu Festival in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, June 19, 2026. The event opened here on Friday, featuring themed activities including dragon boat race, poetry competition, folk culture experience, and culture and tourism promotion. The Duanwu Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Yichang is believed to be the hometown of Qu Yuan. Also known as Dragon Boat Festival, the tradition is observed on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It falls on June 19 this year. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

A child performs with entertainers at Taierzhuang ancient town in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, June 19, 2026. Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year. People enjoy their 3-day holiday through various ways. (Photo by Li Zhijun/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on June 19, 2026 shows tourists visiting the Chengshantou scenic area in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province. Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year. People enjoy their 3-day holiday through various ways. (Photo by Li Xinjun/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on June 19, 2026 shows a boat tour in the sea area of Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province. Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year. People enjoy their 3-day holiday through various ways. (Photo by Li Xinjun/Xinhua)

People buy Chinese herbs for Dragon Boat Festival at the Water Street Market in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 19, 2026. Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year. People enjoy their 3-day holiday through various ways. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People select souvenirs at a shop on the Central Street in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 19, 2026. Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year. People enjoy their 3-day holiday through various ways. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Tourists visit the Daguan Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 19, 2026. Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year. People enjoy their 3-day holiday through various ways. (Photo by Zheng Yi/Xinhua)

People visit the square of the Flood Control Monument in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 19, 2026. Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year. People enjoy their 3-day holiday through various ways. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Residents attend a Dragon Boat Festival event in Gaoxin Subdistrict of Zouping City, east China's Shandong Province, June 19, 2026. Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year. People enjoy their 3-day holiday through various ways. (Photo by Dong Naide/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on June 19, 2026 shows the scene of a dragon boat race during Dragon Boat Festival celebrations at Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. People across China are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 19 this year.

From June 19 to 21, Zhenyuan County holds its 42nd dragon boat race to celebrate the festival, bringing together over 60 dragon boat teams from across the country. During the three-day event, various activities, including dragon boat and folk parades, are also held for tourists. (Photo by Yuan Fuhong/Xinhua)

Dragon boat teams compete at a race during Dragon Boat Festival celebrations at Zhenyuan ancient city in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on June 19, 2026. People across China are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 19 this year.

People watch a dragon boat race during Dragon Boat Festival celebrations at Zhenyuan ancient city in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on June 19, 2026. People across China are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 19 this year.

Dragon boat teams take part in a parade during Dragon Boat Festival celebrations at Zhenyuan ancient city in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on June 19, 2026. People across China are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 19 this year.

A drone photo taken on June 19, 2026 shows dragon boat teams gathering for a race during Dragon Boat Festival celebrations at Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. People across China are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 19 this year.

Staff members in traditional costumes interact with a girl in Taohuatan scenic spot in Taohuatan Township of Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2026. Nestled at the headstream region of the Qingyi River, the Taohuatan scenic spot has owed its fame to a famous poem of Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Over the centuries, it has become not only a poetic landmark but also a place that carries a long tradition of dragon boat race.

In Taohuatan Township, local villagers hold dragon boat races every year. Over the past decade or more, the township has worked to grow this activity into a branded event, giving new energy to this old custom.

Today, the scenic area draws on its rich cultural background to offer better tourist experiences and help local homestays, restaurants, and intangible cultural heritage creative products thrive. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

Tourists watch a dragon boat race at a coffee shop in Taohuatan scenic spot in Taohuatan Township of Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 18, 2026. Nestled at the headstream region of the Qingyi River, the Taohuatan scenic spot has owed its fame to a famous poem of Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Over the centuries, it has become not only a poetic landmark but also a place that carries a long tradition of dragon boat race.

Villager Zhai Shanyan makes a bamboo-framed paper dragon head in Taohuatan Township of Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 18, 2026. Nestled at the headstream region of the Qingyi River, the Taohuatan scenic spot has owed its fame to a famous poem of Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Over the centuries, it has become not only a poetic landmark but also a place that carries a long tradition of dragon boat race.

People participate in a dragon boat race in Taohuatan Township of Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 18, 2026. Nestled at the headstream region of the Qingyi River, the Taohuatan scenic spot has owed its fame to a famous poem of Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Over the centuries, it has become not only a poetic landmark but also a place that carries a long tradition of dragon boat race.

A performer in traditional costumes dances in Taohuatan scenic spot in Taohuatan Township of Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2026. Nestled at the headstream region of the Qingyi River, the Taohuatan scenic spot has owed its fame to a famous poem of Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Over the centuries, it has become not only a poetic landmark but also a place that carries a long tradition of dragon boat race.

Tourists take a raft for sightseeing in Taohuatan scenic spot in Taohuatan Township of Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 18, 2026. Nestled at the headstream region of the Qingyi River, the Taohuatan scenic spot has owed its fame to a famous poem of Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Over the centuries, it has become not only a poetic landmark but also a place that carries a long tradition of dragon boat race.

A boy shows a refrigerator magnet with a dragon boat pattern at a store in Taohuatan scenic spot in Taohuatan Township of Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2026. Nestled at the headstream region of the Qingyi River, the Taohuatan scenic spot has owed its fame to a famous poem of Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Over the centuries, it has become not only a poetic landmark but also a place that carries a long tradition of dragon boat race.