“Double Fifth” is an auspicious day on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The fifth day of the fifth month coincides with one of the most important traditional holidays in China, Southeast Asia and East Asia: Duanwu.

Duanwu, or Tuen Ng Jit in Cantonese, honours the life and death of Qu Yuan. The eminent pre-Qin Dynasty scholar is the central poet of the Chu Ci, or Songs of Chu anthology. Qu Yuan’s magnum opus, the 373-verse “Li Sao”, is the pivotal poem of the compilation and a legendary milestone in Chinese literature.

The circumstances that shroud Qu Yuan’s death however, mark the most famous Duanwu Festival ritual: the dragon boat race. As minister to a king in the sovereign state of Chu, Qu Yuan led efforts to curb corruption and immoral practices in the court. Resentful and slanderous officials eventually cast him out however. In his exile, Qu Yuan wrote prolifically about his love and concerns for his homeland. Deep anxiety over rampant dishonesty and inequality finally led Qu Yuan to drown himself in a ritual suicide in Hunan Province’s Miluo River.

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While Duanwu festivals venerate Qu Yuan’s life and patriotic passion, the frantic pursuit to locate and save the poet by villagers in long boats is precisely what dragon boat races commemorate. Unfortunately, not enough people who participate in the sport appreciate the Duanwu ritual’s rich, symbolic significance.

With that historical perspective out of the way, here are some notable Duanwu festivals to consider the next time you visit Asia on “Double Fifth” or otherwise.

Hong Kong Duanwu

Hong Kong is the birthplace of modern dragon boat culture and the city where the International Dragon Boat Federation came to pass in 1991. Every year in either May or June, the Duanwu Festival dragon boat race features some of the best teams from all over the world. Throngs of race fans gather to watch crews compete in elegant, traditional vessels in Victoria Harbour.

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The subsequent Dragon Boat Carnival in July is the most popular annual event in Hong Kong. The three-day event in East Tsim Sha Tsui – home to some of the best Kowloon, Hong Kong hotels – is a big party, with entertainment, street food and the venerable Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races.

Phuket International Dragon Boat Festival

The tropical island of Phuket throws a Dragon Boat Festival every year on Nai Harn Lake, the same body of water that hosts the King’s Cup Regatta in December and the Royal Yacht Club. With pristine Nai Harn Beach nearby, easily one of the most beautiful on Phuket, the festival is a popular island event.

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Macau Dragon Boat Festival

Like Hong Kong, Macau celebrates Duanwu in style. Every “Double Fifth”, ornate dragon boats assemble en masse in Nam Man Lake on the south side of the Macau Peninsula. The festival is a welcome cultural pick-me-up from the myriad casino resorts in the Special Administrative Region.

Malaysia International Dragon Boat Festival

Malaysia is another dragon boat-mad nation, with festivals from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. The official Malaysia International Dragon Boat Festival however, takes place in the new city of Putrajaya. Built to combat the urban sprawl of KL, the Federal Territory is home to the official residence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia and executive branch of the federal government. Just thirty minutes from KL, Putrajaya also has notable landmarks like Seri Wawasan Bridge, Putra Mosque and Darul Ehsan Palace.

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Shanghai Duanwu

Traditional food plays a considerable role in Duanwu, which explains why to so many, “Double Fifth” equals “Rice Dumpling Festival”. As legend has it, villagers threw the glutinous morsels, or zongzi, into the Miluo River to ward fish away from Qu Yuan’s body. The tasty delicacy now figures prominently in Duanwu rituals, most notably in food mecca Shanghai. Duanwu in the premier PRC metropolis features a gourmet festival, poetry recitals, live entertainment, zongzi competitions and of course, dragon boat races.

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Singapore Duanwu Festival

Singapore loves a good food festival as well and every Duanwu, city-state chefs compete for gourmet’s hearts and palates with a sumptuous array of traditional and avant-garde dishes. The Central Area bursts with colour and a flourish of special events for “Double Fifth” but the best action takes place on the Bedok Reservoir. The beautiful water sports sanctuary and recreation area is where all the inherent excitement of the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival takes place.

To catch the best dragon boat action, check out key hotel deals in Asia.

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