the festival has been marked by eating zong zi (glutinous rice（糯米）wrapped to form a pyramid using bamboo or reed leaves) and racing dragon boats.
the festival is best known for its dragon-boat races, especially in the southern provinces where there are many rivers and lakes. thisregatta（赛舟会）commemorates the death of qu yuan , an honest minister who is said to have committed suicide by drowning himself in a river. qu was a minister of the state of chu situated in present-day hunan and hubei provinces, during thewarring states period(475-221bc)（战国时期）. he was upright, loyal and highly esteemed for his wise counsel that brought peace and prosperity to the state. however, when a dishonest and corrupt prince vilified qu, he was disgraced and dismissed from office. realizing that the country was now in the hands of evil and corrupt officials, qu grabbed a large stone and leapt into the miluo river on the fifth day of the fifth month. nearby fishermen rushed over to try and