Qu Yuan and the Dragon Boat Festival

This story explains how Qu Yuan’s loyalty and sorrow became connected with the Dragon Boat Festival. Learners read about zongzi, dragon boat racing, and the memory behind the holiday.

HSK 3–4

Illustration inspired by Qu Yuan and the Dragon Boat Festival.

Story preview

  1. 很久以前，中国还不是一个统一的国家。

    hen3 jiu3 yi3 qian2 zhong1 guo2 hai2 bu4 shi4 yi1 ge4 tong3 yi1 de5 guo2 jia1

    Long ago, China was not yet a unified country.

  2. 那时候有很多国家，其中一个叫楚国。

    na4 shi2 hou5 you3 hen3 duo1 guo2 jia1 qi2 zhong1 yi1 ge4 jiao4 chu3 guo2

    At that time there were many states, and one of them was called the State of Chu.

  3. 楚国很大，也很美。

    chu3 guo2 hen3 da4 ye3 hen3 mei3

    Chu was large, and it was also beautiful.