On June 10, a national cultural event themed "Our Festival—Duanwu" was launched in Miluo, Yueyang City to commemorate the traditional Chinese Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival.

Numerous people gathered on both sides of the Miluo River, watching traditional dragon boat races, tasting traditional Zongzi, and enjoying a feast of Duanwu culture.

Various art performances were staged at the launching ceremony, including folk dance of ancient Chu State, poetry chanting with Guqin, and festive dances.

The China Miluo River Dragon Boat Super League (local races) kicked off on that day, accompanied by an enlightening symposium on Duanwu culture inheritance and Chinese civilization, Duanwu intangible cultural heritage themed shows, and Duanwu folk customs experience activities.

Before the kickoff of the dragon boat races, traditional rituals were held such as a sacrificial ceremony for Qu Yuan, a dragon boat launch ceremony, and a "dragon eye dotting" ceremony. The rituals aimed to pay homage to the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, develop a deeper love for the country and its people, build stronger cultural confidence, and present the cultural connotations of traditional festivals.

Miluo is known as the "origin of Duanwu Festival, home to dragon boasts, and cradle of poetry". It is the carrier of Qu Yuan's spirit of perseverance to seek truth, and the birthplace of Ren Bishi, one of the founders of the People's Republic of China.

The event was hosted by China's Central Office of Civilization Construction, organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, CPC Yueyang Municipal Committee, and Yueyang Municipal Government, and coordinated by the Publicity Department of the CPC Yueyang Municipal Committee, Miluo Party committee, and Miluo government. 

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn