International teams compete in 2024 International Dragon Boat Federation World Cup

One of the most popular stories of the festival's origins is that of Qu Yuan, an exiled poet and politician during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). Upon hearing that his state, Chu, had been defeated, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River.

Villagers paddled out in boats to save him, however upon realizing it was too late they threw zongzi, known as glutinous rice dumplings, into the river to prevent fish from eating his body. The villagers also thrashed their paddles and beat their drums to scare the fish away.