With Boats, Cheers & Beers, Hong Kong Gears Up To Host Dragon Boat Carnival

by  Shantanu Jain Industry Watch | April 22, 2016 | News

Hong Kong Tourism Board

Known for its countless features and festivals, Hong Kong has always been one of the most sought after destinations attracting tourism from all over the world. The exotic destination is ready to comes alive with its vibrancy at its annual Dragon Boat Carnival, scheduled to be held from June 10-12 this year.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, the 2016 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival will take a bigger stage, by putting all programme elements at Central Harbour Front, beside the spectacular Victoria Harbour.
 
Thousands of the world’s top dragon boat athletes are ready to battle it out at the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races this year. The participating teams are expected to show up in funky costumes and catch the eyes of the audience, while spectators indulge in cold beer and live entertainment at San Miguel BeerFest. 

The real highlight of the festival is the fierce-looking dragon boats racing in a lively, vibrant spectacle. Teams race the elaborately decorated dragon boats to the beat of heavy drums. The special boats, which measure more than 10 metres, as per the tradition is ornately carved and painted 'dragon' heads and tails, and each carries a crew of 20-22 paddlers.

Participants train in earnest for the competition. Sitting two abreast, with a steersman at the back and a drummer at the front, the paddlers race to reach the finishing line, urged on by the pounding drums and the roar of the crowds.

The Dragon Boat Festival also known as the Tuen Ng Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese national hero. In a protest against corrupt rulers Qu drowned himself in the Mi Lo River.To scare away fish from eating his body, the townspeople beat drums and threw glutinous rice dumplings called zongzi into the water. Today, this event is remembered by Chinese people around the world, who eat zongzi and go swimming or at least dip their hands in rivers or lakes.
 
The 2016 carnival is expected to witness the presence of thousands of athletes from all over the World competing in Victoria Harbour with Hong Kong’s iconic skyline as the backdrop.

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