Professional dragon boat teams have started to train in preparation for the upcoming competitions at the Dragon Boat Festival in Foshan City, Guangdong Province. As a time-honored tradition, dragon boat races are considered as an important part of this traditional festival. Participants have been devoting their time, energy and passion to the preparation ahead of the formal competitions.
In ancient times, the famous poet Qu Yuan threw himself into the river to protest the political corruption of the day. People raced out to the middle of the river in their fishing boats to save him. They banged drums and splashed their oars in the water, trying to scare away dragons and protect Qu. Today, this event serves as a ritual in the hope of bringing good luck during the harvest season. The Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 10 this year.