Beijing, May 31 -- As May draws to a close, the rhythmic thud of drums and the roar of cheering crowds are once again echoing across rivers and lakes throughout China.

Amid splashing water and synchronized chants, dragon boats surge ahead in fierce competition as Chinese people celebrate Duanwu Festival on Saturday this year.

For millennia, dragon boat racing has remained at the heart of Duanwu Festival, China's first traditional festival inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This explains why it is better known globally as the Dragon Boat Festival.

With origins tied to the death of Qu Yuan, a loyal statesman and patriotic poet from more than 2,000 years ago, this ancient tradition has become a modern phenomenon, ...