Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong

The annual Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng) will be celebrated in Hong Kong on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. In 2008, this is Sunday in the Western calendar. Over 1000 international teams race their colorful boats in waters around Hong Kong. The main races take place on Shing Mun River, at Sha Tin in the New Territories [See map below]. The Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River over 2,000 years ago to protest against the corrupt emperor. [Editor's comment: How many protesters against corrupt leaders in China today become national heroes?] The following day (Monday, June 9) is also a public holiday. More information available at:

• http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/heritage/festivals/he_fest_drag.jhtml
  
• http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=14168
• http://www.hkfastfacts.com/Chinese%20Festivals/dragon_boat_festival.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Boat_Festival
  

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