The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节, Duānwǔ Jié) is one of the most important traditional holidays in China. It’s celebrated annually on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. In 2025, the festival falls on Saturday, May 31, with an official public holiday period to June 2.
Dragon Boat Festival origin and significance
The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the life and death of Qu Yuan (340–278 BC), a patriotic poet and statesman of the ancient Chu state. After being exiled for political reasons, he drowned himself in the Miluo River. The legend says that local villagers paddled out in boats, beat drums, and threw rice dumplings into the river to scare away fish and evil spirits and protect his body.
When is the Dragon Boat Festival in 2025?
In 2025, the Dragon Boat Festival falls on Saturday, May 31. It is a national public holiday in China, with most businesses closed from May 31 through June 2.
Dragon Boat Festival traditions and celebrations
Eating Zongzi
Zongzi are sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, often filled with beans, meat, or sweet dates. They are eaten as a tribute to Qu Yuan and have become a signature food during the festival.
Dragon Boat Races
The most iconic part of the celebration is the dragon boat races—colorful, narrow boats paddled by teams of rowers to the rhythm of pounding drums. These races are held across rivers and lakes throughout China (and abroad) and attract large audiences.
Other Dragon Boat Festival customs
Other traditional customs include hanging mugwort and calamus on doors, wearing five-colored threads for protection, and drinking realgar wine, which is believed to ward off evil.
How does the Dragon Boat Festival impact sourcing from China?
For companies doing business with China, the Dragon Boat Festival may affect operations in several ways:
- Many offices and factories are closed during the holiday period.
- Logistics services may be paused or delayed.
- Demand for certain goods may rise before the holiday, which can affect pricing and availability for the time being.
To avoid disruptions, it is important to plan orders and deliveries in advance, communicate with Chinese partners early, and adjust timelines accordingly. It is also a nice gesture to send holiday greetings to your Chinese business partners as a thoughtful way to show appreciation and strengthen relationships.