On June 21, the 8th China (Miluo) International Dragon Boat Festival was launched with a dragon boat race among 12 teams from all over the country.

Dragon boat is a vehicle which was invented by ancient Chinese people by adding the element of dragon into the design of boats. It integrates functions of transportation, offers sacrifice and prays for blessing. It first appeared at dragon sacrificial activities of southern Chinese river-side inhabitants in Wu and Yue Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC).

It is generally believed that the dragon boat race is an activity to mark the death of a historic figure Qu Yuan. On May 5 in the lunar calendar, 278 BC, Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister in the state of Chu during the Warring States Period, drowned himself in the Miluo River in today's Hunan Province to show his loyalty to the emperor and country. When the local people knew that, they rowed boats to save him. On the broad river, all the rowers in the boats tried every effort to save him, but failed.

Since then people rowed dragon boats on river to mourn for Qu Yuan. Thus, Miluo City was called the hometown of dragon boat race. Since 2005, Miluo City has held the international dragon boat festival for 8 times.

After furious competition, the team from Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province and Chaoyang team from Kaifu District of Changsha City won the first prize of 200-meter competition and 500-meter competition respectively.

Source from enghunan.gov.cn