Written by Holly Booth
The beat of the drum, the smell of saltwater in the air, the bright flags waving, the cheering crowds—there’s nothing quite like the spectacle of watching the annual Dragon Boat festival races in Hong Kong.
This ancient celebration, also known as Tuen Ng festival, is steeped in ceremony, ritual, and religion, with a big dash of competitive spirit thrown in for good measure. Though dragon boat races can now be found all over the world, Hong Kong remains one of the epicenters for both Chinese and international dragon boat races.
Hongkongers take dragon boating very seriously, and for months the teams practice and prepare for the big event. The races have become so popular that international teams come to Hong Kong specifically to race as thousands of spectators cheer them on.
The boats are elaborately decorated, featuring a fierce dragon head, scales on the sides, and a tail, painted in bright colors. A team on a standard sized boat typically comprises 18 to 20 paddlers, led by a steersperson at the back, and a drummer at the front who synchronises the beat with the timing of the paddlers. Certain races use the traditional long boats where a team of 50 paddlers carve their way in through the water in perfect unison at impressive speeds.
What are the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival?
Dragon Boat Festival has a few different origin stories, with the most famous one revolving around Qu Yuan, a revered poet and statesman from the Zhou Dynasty. Qu Yuan, known for his patriotism and literary genius, was exiled from his homeland for opposing a political alliance with a corrupt state. In despair over his home’s decline and the suffering of its people, Qu Yuan took his own life by drowning in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
Upon hearing the news, the distraught villagers raced out in their boats to find Qu Yuan for a proper burial, beating drums and splashing paddles to ward off fish and evil spirits. When they couldn’t find him, they threw rice dumplings, known as zongzi, into the water to prevent the fish from consuming his body. Qu Yuan’s act was both a personal sacrifice and a poignant statement against the political corruption of his time. This enduring legacy is still honored today through the customs of dragon boat racing and eating rice dumplings.
What are zongzi?
Zongzi are dumplings made from glutinous rice and filled with a variety of ingredients, depending on regional preferences or personal tastes. The filling can include savory items like marinated pork, salted egg yolk, mushrooms, and chestnuts, or sweet fillings like red bean paste and candied fruits. The making and eating of these delicious parcels is a custom that has barely changed in over 2,000 years and they are still an important part of dragon boat festival.
Where can I buy zongzi?
Restaurants and cafes
Kee Wah Bakery
From HK$70.00
For a classic and affordable zongzi, find your nearest Kee Wah Bakery (there are numerous branches all across HK island and Kowloon side). Here you’ll find original fillings such as sweet red bean paste and mandarin peel or salty pork and Chinese ham.
Hang Heung Cake shop
From HK$50.00
Hang Heung is known for its traditional egg rolls and cakes throughout the year. For dragon boat season, the pastry shop offers carefully crafted rice dumplings with original sweet and savoury fillings as well as vegetarian options. Single dumplings and gift boxes are available from one of their many locations on either HK or Kowloon side.
Hotels
For a modern (and more expensive) take on Zongzi, many hotels offer their take on the dumplings over the dragon boat festival period. Each hotel shares their Zongzi promotions nearer the time but previous years have seen the likes of the Kerry hotel, Grand Hyatt, Rosewood, Ritz Carlton and Shangri La all get involved with premium fillings such as Iberico pork, abalone and truffle.
Where can I see the Hong Kong Dragon Boat races in 2025?
The official dragon boat festival date for 2025 is May 31, which is a public holiday. However, dragon boat races take place all over Hong Kong before and after the festival day. Here are some of the most popular ones, along with tips on what else to see after the races:
Hong Kong Island
Stanley
May 31Stanley Main Beach
The Sun Life Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships are an immensely popular race held at the normally quiet Stanley Main Beach, on the picturesque south side of Hong Kong Island. The race starts early at 8 am and finishes around 5 pm, and draws huge crowds from start to finish. Head to the restaurants and bars at the waterfront afterwards for a lively street party. Nearby: Stanley Market
Aberdeen
May 31Aberdeen Promenade
Held along the picturesque Aberdeen Promenade, the boats in the typhoon shelter surrounded by massive high rises makes for quite a unique race venue. This event is also one of the few to use the traditional 90ft long boats which are rarely seen in international competitions. Nearby: Ocean Park
Chai Wan
May 25Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area
Held in a cargo bay in Chai Wan, this event may not be as scenic as others but it is a convenient way to experience the excitement of dragon boat racing in a more local and intimate setting compared to larger events like the Stanley races. It’s also not held on the public holiday itself meaning it draws less crowds. Near by: Chai Wan park.
Kowloon
Tsim Sha Tsui
June 7 and 8Tsim Sha Tsui promenade
With the stunning skyline of Victoria Harbour in view, the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade on Kowloon side is a great opportunity to see some races up close without having to venture too far from the city. The CCB (Asia) Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races take place over two days, making it a wild, wet and fun-filled weekend.
Various food and activity stalls pop up all along the waterfront on the weekend and are fun to check out once you’ve had your fill of the races. Nearby: Avenue of Stars, Space Museum, Star Ferry
Kwun Tong
August 24Kwun Tong Promenade
Held in August, this is a good option if you missed the main dragon boat festival but still want a taste of what dragon boat racing is all about. Set alongside the recently developed Kwun Tong promenade, spectators can enjoy views of the HK skyline without jostling for space. Nearby: shopping malls and plenty of restaurants.
New Territories
Sha Tin
May 31Shing Mun river promenade
The Sha Tin race takes place in the Shing Mun River, starting by the very scenic Banyan Bridge. People line the long riverside promenade, cheering on the racers. Nearby: Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery.
Sai Kung
May 31Sai Kung waterfront promenade
The Sai Kung Town Waterfront area becomes a hub of action on race day and the restaurants and bars are buzzing afterwards. Consider taking a boat to a nearby beach to cool off in the sea but be mindful that queues for buses and taxi’s will be huge as the sun starts to go down. Nearby: Sai Kung country park.
Tai Po
May 31Tai Po waterfront park
Though Tai Po is a bit far from the city, it’s worth the MTR ride to see this lively race, held in the expansive Tai Po Waterfront Park. Nearby: Tai Po Market, Hong Kong Railway Museum
Outlying Islands
Lamma Island
May 4Tai Wan To Beach, Lamma Island
The MOX Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival, also called ‘Lamma 500’, prides itself on hosting Hong Kong’s only international long course event with 500m and 1000m courses. Visiting Lamma Island is a great way to see a different side of Hong Kong plus, there’s a rockin’ after-race beach party too. Nearby: Lamma seafood restaurants, hiking trails and beaches.
Cheung Chau
May 31Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter
Home to the infamous annual Cheung Chau bun festival, this tiny island is filled with history, culture and beautiful nature. Its dragon boat race event is on a smaller scale but it still draws a decent crowd and makes for a good base to go exploring afterwards. Nearby: Cheung Po Tsai cave, Cheung Chau village.
Tai O
May 31Tai O waterfront
A unique event in a remote part of Lantau, the Tai O dragon boat parade is more about ritual rather than racing and holds great cultural and religious significance for the local residents.
The dragon boats are beautifully decorated with flags and traditional ornaments and are used to tow sampan boats carrying religious deities from four temples along the waterways, appeasing any wandering spirits. Local villagers burn incense and paper offerings to the deities as they pass by, asking for blessings and peace for the surrounding waters and land. The parade is followed by some traditional races to entertain the gods before the deities are returned to their temples. Nearby: Tai O fishing village, Tai O heritage hotel.
Note: Organisers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
