Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng Festival)

By The Culinary Chase | June 20, 2007 |

The dragon boat festival is a popular annual event held in various venues throughout Hong Kong. The biggest venue is held in Stanley where there are over 140 teams. The special boats, which measure more than 10 meters, have ornately carved and painted “dragon” heads and tails” and each carries a crew of 20-22 paddlers. Stanley, known by tourists across the world for its tightly packed streets filled with shopping opportunities, is also known for its choice of restaurants and pubs but, in recent years, it has also become famous for its annual Dragon Boat Races. This festival commemorates the death of a popular Chinese national hero, Qu Yuan, who threw himself in the Mi Lo River over 2,000 years ago to protest against the corrupt rulers. According to the legend, townspeople attempted to rescue him by beating drums to scare fish away and then threw dumplings into the sea to keep the fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body.

Dragon boat festival is celebrated all over the world. The traditional food for this festival are rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. The dumplings can be savoury or sweet.

The Culinary Chase’s Note: This is a fun event for the whole family to enjoy! It attracts individuals, clubs and companies and the teams usually arrive decked out in the colors of their corporate sponsors and some arrive in ‘themed’ costumes. Click here to see where the international venues are located.

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3 Comments

  1. Kalyn on June 20, 2007 at 13:26

    How fun! I remember going to the market in Stanley when I was in Hong Kong. I’d love to see this. It sounds like quite an experience.



  2. candyschultz on June 20, 2007 at 22:29

    That is very interesting. Have you been to it?



  3. The Culinary Chase on June 21, 2007 at 00:44

    Hi Kalyn & Candy! This is a FUN event especially when the weather co-operates! The dragon boat festival was held 19th June in Hong Kong. My family went this year as a friend of ours was participating. I partook 2 years ago in another venue held in Discovery Bay. Loads of fun & great camaraderie! I would encourage anyone to attend or get involved. Dragon boat racing is done all over the world……. click on the link in my note to see where. Cheers!