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The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a significant holiday celebrated in China and the one with the longest history. This Festival, also known as Tuen Ng Festival, commemorates the death of a popular Chinese national hero, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River over 2,000 years ago to protest against the corrupt rulers. Legend says that as townspeople attempted to rescue him, they beat drums to scare fish away and threw dumplings into the sea to keep the fish from eating Qu Yuan's body. The real highlight of the festival is the fierce dragon boats racing is a lively, vibrant spectacle. Teams race the elaborately decorated dragon boats to the beat of heavy drums. The special boats, which measure more than 10 metres, have ornately carved and painted "dragon" heads and tails, and each carries a crew of 20-22 paddlers. The hull is typically decorated with a design of red, green and blue scales edged in gold. Men standing at the bow set off firecrackers toss rice into the water and make believe they are looking for Qu Yuan. All the noise and pageantry creates an atmosphere of gaiety and excitement. Historically, competitions were held between different clans, villages and organizations, and winners were awarded medals, banners, jugs of wine and festive meals. Participants train in earnest for the competition. Sitting two abreast, with a steersman at the back and a drummer at the front, the paddlers race to reach the finishing line, urged on by the pounding drums and the roar of the crowds. Today, festival activities recall this legendary event. People eat rice-and-meat dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves; and many look forward to swimming or even simply dipping their hands in the water. It is believed that Dragon Boat Festival Day is a great day for collecting herbs as medicine. They believe the herbs work better if you pick it and prepare it on this day. Various kinds of herbs are also boiled in the water and people bathe in it to help staying healthy. Dragon boating, originally linked to the traditional Tuen Ng Chinese festival and the fishermen of the region, has now become an international sport. An event which attracts individuals, clubs and companies as participants and thousands of locals and visitors as sightseers, eager to watch the exciting drama as these long, elegant, exotic boats thrust through the waves of Stanley Bay.
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