Races, zongzi to remember patriot-poet

The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most important traditional Chinese holidays. It is the day when Chinese people commemorate patriot-poet Qu Yuan (c340 -278 BC).

Qu lived in the kingdom of Chu in the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). He was exiled after jealous, corrupt ministers convinced the king Qu was conspiring against the monarch.

But Qu never lost his love for his country and people. He risked his life to return to the palace in the hope of persuading the king against befriending the powerful northern state of Qin, which was in fact preparing to annex Chu. But the king dismissed him and accepted the Qin state's false friendship.