Chinese Dragon Boat Festival Holiday Notice
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This traditional Chinese festival has a history of over 2,000 years.
It is widely believed that the festival commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. In despair over the decline of his state, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River. To prevent fish from eating his body, people threw zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) into the river. They also rowed dragon boats on the river in an attempt to scare away the fish and retrieve his body.
Today, the festival is celebrated with various activities. Dragon boat racing is a major highlight, where teams paddle dragon-shaped boats vigorously, demonstrating unity and strength. Eating zongzi remains a must, with different fillings and flavors across regions. People also hang mugwort and calamus on doors, believing they can drive away evil spirits and bring good luck. Additionally, drinking realgar wine is an old custom to ward off diseases.
In 2009, the Dragon Boat Festival was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, further highlighting its cultural significance.
According to the national regulations, the holiday arrangements for the Dragon Boat Festival in 2025 are as follows:
There will be a three-day holiday from May 31 (Saturday) to June 2 (Monday). Work will resume as usual on June 3 (Tuesday).
During the holiday, please make proper arrangements for your work and life. If you have any travel plans, please pay attention to safety and traffic information. For those on duty during the holiday, please perform your duties conscientiously to ensure the normal operation of relevant work.
Wish everyone a happy and safe Dragon Boat Festival!