Racing Spirit: Dragon Boat Festival

Description

Dragon boat festival, or Tuen Ng, occurs on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the Chinese calendar, and is a festival on which large boats shaped like war canoes with crews ranging from 20 to 80 people take to the water and compete as crowds at the banks cheer them on.

A rambunctious affair, crews paddle to the beat of a drummer sitting in the middle of the boat as cymbals crash nearby.  Stemming from ancient traditions, the festival welcomes the onset of summer, when the dominant, masculine yang principle becomes the ruling force.

There are usually several dragon boat races during Tuen Ng on the territory. And, while this year the day falls on May 30, a three-day-long event will be held at Central Harbourfront from June 2 to 4 to mark the 20th anniversary since the Handover.