Dragon Boat Festival 2024 in China

Public Holidays

In 2024, the Dragon Boat Festival will fall on Monday, June 10th. In China, this will result in a three-day public holiday from Saturday, June 8th to Monday, June 10th.

What is the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duānwǔ jié in Mandarin, is a traditional Chinese holiday that is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. This year, the festival will be celebrated on June 10th.

The origins of the Dragon Boat Festival are shrouded in legend, but it is believed to have originated during the Warring States period (475-221 BCE). According to one legend, the festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet who drowned himself in the Miluo River after his advice was rejected by the corrupt Chu king.

Nowadays, the Dragon Boat Festival is a time for families and friends to get together and celebrate. Traditional activities include eating zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings), watching dragon boat races, and setting off firecrackers.