The Dragon Boat Festival is a major celebration in the Lunar calendar. In recent years, dragon boat racing has also been gaining popularity worldwide as a sport. Being the birthplace of modern dragon boat racing and a city boasting a rich festive culture, Hong Kong celebrates the festival with a series of competitive races and cultural activities. For a total experience combining the sport and the tradition, look no further than the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival, an annual event organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and co-organised by the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association (HKCDBA), which is taking place for the 10th time this June with an action-packed programme.

An international sport descended from a centuries-old tradition The dragon boat, a long canoe carved with a decorative dragon head and tail and painted with totems, embodies the venerable creature in Chinese mythology.

Herald the summer with the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival Dragon Boat Festival celebrations in Hong Kong are heated. In addition to well-known races in Stanley, Shatin and Aberdeen on 7 June, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival will push the festivities to the summit in the weekend that follows (14 to 16 June).

Conventional races aside, there will be a “Fancy Dress Competition”, while a fun-filled playground with a man-made beach, a “Splash Area”, the Street Food Gala, the newly introduced Artisanal Market and more will be set up at the Central Harbourfront – and entrance is free for all!

Today, the bigger, leaf-wrapped steamed rice dumplings which contain a greater variety of ingredients, from salted egg yolk to roast duck, roast pork, dried scallops, Jinhua ham and shiitake mushrooms, can easily feed two to three people.

For further details on the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival and other festive activities, please visit: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/see-do/events-festivals/highlight-events/dragon-boat- carnival.jsp