The Tuen Ng Festival, otherwise known as the Duanwu or Dragon Boat Festival, has been celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar for millennia.
A dragon boat is a huge war canoe traditionally made from teak that has a dragon`s head carved into the bow and a dragon`s tail carved at the stern. The boats can range up to 100 feet in length and seat anywhere from 20 to 80 paddlers, varying in size. A sacred ritual is held before the race when the eyes are painted on, which is said to "bring the boat to life." A drummer who sits mid-boat and keeps the time of the oar strokes on a huge drum accompanies all boats.
