The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is widely celebrated in Taiwan. It is a traditional and statutory holiday that falls on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar, usually in late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar. The festival marks the attempted rescue of the ancient poet, Qu Yuan, who committed suicide in the river out of despair for his country.
The key highlights of this festival in Taiwan are dragon boat racing and eating zongzi. Dragon boat racing is an energetic and colorful spectacle. Teams of rowers paddle furiously in races using long, narrow wooden boats, intricately carved and painted to look like dragons. The competition is fierce as it is a race against time and other teams to reach the finish line.
Zongzi, the pyramid-shaped dumplings made of glutinous rice and a treasure trove of fillings, are a special treat during the festival. They symbolize the rice packages that were thrown into the river to keep fish from eating Qu Yuan's body. The Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan provides not only an exciting spectacle for tourists but also insight into Taiwanese traditions and their respect and love for historical figures and heroic acts.