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    The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Foreign Countries

    Written by: Youlin Correspondent
    Posted on: May 25, 2017 | | 中文

    German women's national football team competes in dragon boat race (source: Getty Images)

    The Dragon Boat Festival, which takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, was listed in the World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in 2009. Now, in addition to Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan and Singapore, this Chinese festival has gained popularity in Germany, the US and the UK as well.

    The Gangneung Danoje Festival in South Korea

    The celebration for this festival lasts for more than 20 days in South Korea. Many traditional Korean activities are held during this time, including the mask dance, Touhu game, wrestling, swing and Taekwondo. Among these, Gangneung Danoje Festival, a big occasion for citizens to pray for harvest and happiness, is the most typical South Korean celebration.

    Gangneung Danoje Festival in Korea - The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Foreign Countries

    Gangneung Danoje Festival in Korea (source: Visit Korea)

    The Festival of Boys in Japan

    This Chinese festival was introduced into Japan after the Heian Period. On this day, Japanese people often eat Zongzi and Kashiwa and drink calamus wine to avoid evil spirits. The pronunciation of calamus in Japanese is similar to that of “shoubu” (the spirit of militarism), so this day has gradually become a boys' day. Koinobori, Samurai doll, armors and army caps are placed for people to pray for health and a promising future for boys.

    Zongzi and Dragon Boat Race in Singapore

    Eating Zongzi and holding the dragon boat race are traditional activities for Chinese Singaporeans on this occasion. Before or after the day of Dragon Boat Festival, the Invitational Dragon Boat Race is held in the East Coast Park. Teams from all over the world come and compete here.

    Qu Yuan on a dragon boat as depicted in a sculpture in Singapore - The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Foreign Countries

    Qu Yuan on a dragon boat as depicted in a sculpture in Singapore (source: Rice Paper Kite)

    The Zongzi Wrapping Race in Malaysia

    Malaysian Chinese accounts for about one-fourth of the population in the country. And the day is not only a holiday for them, but also an important occasion to display and pass down traditional Chinese culture. So traditional events like Zongzi wrapping race and dragon boat race are held on this important day.

    The Realgar Wine in Vietnam

    Zongzi is daily food for the Vietnamese as they believe it can drive away all evils. Parents prepare various fruits and lucky bracelets with threads of five colors for their kids. Adults drink realgar wine and spread it on children's bodies to avoid evil spirits. In addition, the Vietnamese believe that eating Zongzi can bring them good weather and harvest.

    Realgar Wine - The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Foreign Countries

    Realgar Wine (source: CRI)

    Dragon Boat Race in the US

    By participating in the dragon boat races held in China, Americans began to find out about the event in the 1980s. Now this Chinese traditional sports event has become one of the fastest-growing recreational sports in the United States. Besides the dragon boat race, Zongzi is also popular in America. Chinese bakeries make various types of Zongzi in their daily specials on this day every year. Zongzi of different types and flavors are favored by many Americans.

    Dragon Boat Race in the UK

    Dragon boat race and eating Zongzi have been regarded as a permanent part of this annual festival in the UK. During the China-UK Culture Exchange Year, a typical Chinese dragon boat race was held in Salford Harbor of Manchester, which feasted the eyes of the audiences. The Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival attracted more than 2000 people, including Chinese and local people, as well as students and tourists.

    The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Foreign Countries

    (Source: Visit Birmingham)

    Dragon Boat Race in Germany

    Since the first Dragon Boat Festival in 1989, the dragon boat race in Germany has been going on for more than 20 years. The racing field has changed to Frankfurt, the financial center of Germany, from 1991.

    There are many other recreational races besides the boat race. In 2012, the boatmen wearing striped bathrobes and shower caps participated in the race held in the city of Denstafstan. Regardless of the results, people had a lot of fun.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021