Duanwu is one of the biggest traditional Chinese holidays. It happens on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, and this year it falls on the 18th June. It is to commemorate the death of the patriotic scholar and poet Qu Yuan, who lived in Zhou Dynasty in 300 BC.

Although Duanwu is the official name of this holiday, most people refer this day as the Dragon Boat Festival, and in lots of cities especially in East and South China, dragon boat races are the highlight of this holiday.

The traditional must-eat food for this holiday is Zongzi which is made of gluten rice and other ingredients wrapped in bamboo leaves. Common ingredients are pork and egg yolk in the east and south of China or red bean paste and jujubes in the north and west.

There are other typical things to do around this holiday season, but watching the dragon boat races and eating Zongzi are the most iconic traditions of Duanwu.