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James Modesto

Hong Kong has prepared a spate of fun-filled activities to celebrate Tuen Ng Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival.
The festival starting on Monday commemorates Qu Yuan, a poet and exiled statesman from the ancient Chu kingdom during the Warring States Period (476BC – 221BC).
He drowned himself in the Miluo River in today’s Hunan province in 278BC following his state’s defeat.
Yuan’s followers threw rice dumplings in the river to prevent fish from eating his corpse while also paddling boats and banging on drums to ward off evil spirits, prompting the dragon boat tradition, which subsequently evolved into races.
The Post lists five activities you can do over the extended weekend in the city.
1. Go to dragon boat races
The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races are due to take place on June 15 and 16. About 170 teams and 4,000 athletes are expected to take part in the mega events at Victoria Harbour.
Races are set to be held at Stanley, Tai O, Aberdeen, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Tai Po on Monday.

2. Watch drone, fireworks shows
A drone show and fireworks display will light up the Wan Chai harbourfront at 8pm on June 10 and 15 respectively.
The Tourism Board said revellers could expect free ice cream from 6pm to 8pm, to be served on a first come, first served basis.
People can view the shows from the Wan Chai HarbourChill and Wan Chai Water Sports and Recreation Precinct. The Kowloon waterfront may not give a full view of the displays.
3. Eat, shop, take selfies, explore
A string of outdoor activities will be available along the Victoria Harbour waterfront.
In Tsim Sha Tsui, the Avenue of Stars will have various food stalls, photo installations and a pop-up store.
From June 8 to 16, the “Summer Chill Food Lane” will offer locally crafted beer and cold-pressed juices, among other beverages, from 2pm to 9pm on Saturday and 12pm to 9pm on the following days.
South Korean brand “Line Friends” will also be there from Saturday to July 1, with more photo installations and a pop-up store in place. The store will be operating from 10am to 10pm.
Events are also taking place on outlying islands, such as Lamma.
The Lamma Fisherfolks Village, opened in 2006, offers a view of life before the city became a global financial hub. The village has two authentic wooden dragon boats that people can climb on or take pictures with, as well as test out their musical prowess on drums.
The village will also host activities such as rope-tying, net-knitting and fishing at designated spots to allow visitors to experience what it is like to be a fisherman.
Many restaurants in the village offer freshly caught seafood, serving dishes including steamed lobster and fried cuttlefish.
Other attractions include fishing sampans, junk boats and houses on stilts.

4. Munch on rice dumplings
Sticky rice dumplings, or zongzi, are traditionally stuffed with a variety of fillings such as pork, beef and red bean paste.
But several local establishments have departed from the traditional fillings, coming up with their own take on the delicacy by using fillings such as abalone and red kidney beans. They also use cauliflower rice instead of the glutinous version.
5. Take a swim in dragon boat water
In Chinese traditional culture, it is often considered good luck to swim in the water the dragon boats raced on. This can be generalised as swimming anywhere and at any time during the festival.
While the Hong Kong Observatory forecasts showers during the weekend, weather on Monday is expected to be hot, making it ideal for a swim.
Temperatures on racing days are expected to range from 27 to 30 degrees Celsius (80.6 to 86 Fahrenheit), with occasional showers and isolated thunderstorms.


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Aberdeen is one of the locations hosting dragon boat races. Photo: Sam Tsang

The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races are due to take place on June 15 and 16. Photo: Eugene Lee

Traditional glutinous rice dumplings are a favourite during the festival. Photo: Nora Tam

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Paddlers join the fancy dress competition at last year’s Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races. Photo: Sam Tsang

The Tourism Board’s Dane Cheng (left) and Kenny Lo, president of the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association, drum up interest for the coming races. Photo:  Elson Li

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Revellers can enjoy dragon boat races in Victoria Harbour, Stanley, Tai O, Aberdeen, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Tai Po


Revellers can enjoy dragon boat races in Victoria Harbour, Stanley, Tai O, Aberdeen, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Tai Po.
