In the fourth century B.C., China was under political and military strife.  This era is also known as the Warring States period.   Qu Yuan, disgruntled with the ruler and the state of affairs, protested against the regime by jumping into the Mei Lo River.   According to legend, local fishermen, upon seeing their beloved poet's act of courage, raced out with their boats in an attempt to save him.   To their dismay, they arrived too late.   To prevent his body from being eaten by the fish, they beat the waters furiously with their paddles and threw rice dumplings wrapped in silk into the river to distract the fish.

The re-enactment of the villagers racing out to save Qu Yuan has become today's Dragon Boat Race Festival.

Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar,  Dragon Boat racing is an annual event held in over 40 countries.

All around the world,  people have embraced this water sport and formed Dragon Boat Racing clubs in their own countries.