South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and east China's Fujian Province burst to life with colorful activities as people started celebrating the Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival. It is traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

The festival, now a national holiday, falls on June 22 this year.

With a history going back more than 2,000 years, the Duanwu Festival is celebrated across China and around the world. The festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet (340-278 BC) known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry.