ManyaheavysighIhaveinmydespair,

GrievingthatIwasborninsuchanunluckytime.

Iyokedateamofjadedragonstoaphoenixchariot,

Andwaitedforthewindtocome,

tosouruponmyjourney

Ashewassolovedbythepeople,fishermenrushedoutinlongboats, beatingdrumstoscarethefishaway,andthrowingzongziintothewaterto feedbraverfishsothattheywouldnoteatQuYuan‘sbody.

TheModernDragonBoatFestivalstartedfromthattimetothisday,people commemoratedQuYuanthroughDragonBoatRaces,eatingzongzi,andseveral otheractivities,ontheanniversaryofhisdeath:thefifthdayofthefifth lunarmonth.

DragonBoatracesarethemostexcitingpartofthefestival,drawing crowdsofspectators.DragonBoatsaregenerallybrightlypaintedanddecorated canoes.Ranginganywherefrom40to100feetinlength,theirheadsareshaped likeopen-moutheddragons,whilethesternsendwithascalytail.Dependingon thelength,upto80rowerscanpowertheboat.Adrummerandflag-catcherstand atthefrontoftheboat.Beforeadragonboatenterscompetition,itmustbe "broughttolife"bypaintingtheeyesinasacredceremony.Racescanhaveany numberofboatscompeting,withthewinnerbeingthefirstteamtograbaflag attheendofthecourse.AnnualracestakeplacealloverChina,HongKong, Macao,Taiwan,andotheroverseasChinesecommunities.