History of Dragon Boats

Dragon boat racing is the world’s fastest growing water sport and also the most exciting.

Twenty paddlers move in unison, combining strength with teamwork in a boat whose elaborate design originates in ancient China.

The Legend of the Dragon Boat

The historical significance dates back to 277 B.C. Qu Yuan, a poet and the emperor’s personal adviser during the Ch’u dynasty, criticized the emperor for ignoring his royal duties while indulging himself in earthly pleasures. In order to make the emperor see how grave the situation was, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Mi Lo River. The Chinese people were in awe of this martyr who patriotically gave his life for his country. In an attempt to save him, local fishermen wildly beat their drums and splashed the water with their paddles to prevent water dragons and fish from eating his body. The modern Dragon Boat Race is based upon the reenactment of the race to save Qu from the water's terrors.