The Dragon Boat Festival (called Duanwu Festival in Chinese) is a colorful holiday of boat racing, customs and of course food even around the time. This traditional event, observed on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, offers not only thrilling dragon boat races for spectators to enjoy but also special dishes that have been passed on for generations.
Food is an integral part of this festival as each dish has a historical significance, and regional variation. Whether you celebrate with family or explore on your own, here are some traditional Dragon Boat Festival foods you should try.
1. Zongzi — The Star Dish of the Festival
What would the Dragon Boat Festival be without zongzi (粽子), the most iconic food of the festival? These sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and steamed or boiled until perfection. Filling varies by region:
- Northern China: Sweet zongzi stuffed with red bean paste, jujube (Chinese dates) or other dried fruits. Others even skim them in sugar to make them even sweeter.
- Southern China: Savory zongzi filled with pork belly, salted egg yolk, mushrooms and even seafood. These tend to be more flavorful and rustic.
Zongzi can take many shapes — triangles, rectangles — depending on local traditions. Not only is this the dish linked to the story of Qu Yuan, the patriotic poet, but the dish itself is like the root of remembrance, not just a meal.
2. Dagao – Glutinous Rice Cake
Dagao (打糕) is a chewy, tasty rice cake created by North Korea’s ethnic minority group—which lives in Northeast China’s Jilin Province. It is beat with mugwort and glutinous rice, resulting in unique texture. Then this dessert is served with honey or sugar: a simple, but refined taste.
3. Mianshanzi — Colorful Fan-Shaped Flour Cakes
A lesser-known yet visually appealing Dragon Boat Festival food is Mianshanzi. These fan-shaped wheat flour cakes are an accompaniment to the meal served in Minqin County, Gansu Province. The cake has five colorful layers, with pepper powder sprinkled over, and is pinched into complex designs. The making Mianshanzi has its origins in an ancient practice that involves creating and selling fans during the festival.
4. Jiandui — Fried Cakes for Luck
In Fujian Province, families eat jiandui (煎堆), round fried cakes made from wheat and rice flour, and sweetened for a crunchy treat. The Dragon Boat Festival is known as the time to have the sky patched with holes to avoid unending rain. Jiandui also symbolizes filling these holes and having good weather.
5. Eel – A Seasonal Delicacy
In the province of Wuhan in Central China, eel is a hot dish at the festival. Eels are in season, and are eaten for their rich, fatty texture and nutritional value. 所以上海人是绝对的认为：夏天的湿气太重，吃鳗鱼能给身体补一补。
6. Crispy, Savory Pancakes – Light and Airy
Families in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, prepare thin pancakes for the Dragon Boat Festival. These are made with polished wheat flour and then cooked in a flat pan until silky and translucent. They are then stuffed with green bean sprouts, leek, shredded meat and mushrooms, rolled up, and consumed like a wrap.
7. Tea-steamed eggs — A symbol of good luck
After several trials and errors, I learned that boiling eggs with tea is a unique custom of the Dragon Boat Festival in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. Once boiled, the eggshells are dyed red, and they’re put into colorful net bags, which children then hang around their necks. They are believed to be salt of the earth and bring good luck and protection.
8. Egg with Garlic – A Healthy but Simple Tradition
In rural areas of Henan and Zhejiang Provinces, people begin their morning on festival day eating steamed eggs with garlic. This practice is believed to help maintain good health and strength in the hot summer season.
9. A Protectively Festive Drink: Realgar Wine
Realgar wine (Xionghuangjiu, 雄黄酒) is a traditional beverage thought to prevent evil spirits and disease. Today, this practice is less common for safety reasons, but some communities still prepare a milder version to celebrate this tradition.
Celebrating the Festival at Your Table
The Dragon Boat festival is not just a blood-pumping sports event, it is also an historical and cultural celebration — and, most importantly, it is all about food. These traditional foods give you a taste of the rich heritage that this festival has to offer, whether you’re trying zongzi (竹筒飯) for the first time, or tucking into a savory eel dish.
Which of these dishes would you want to eat? Let us know in the comments!
