The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the four most important holidays on the Chinese Calendar. Dragon Boat races are held and sticky rice dumplings are consumed. The Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Lunar Calendar. Its date varies from year to year on the Gregorian Calendar. It falls on 10 June in 2024.
The Dragon Boat Festival is also known as the Tuen Ng Festival in Hong Kong and the Duan Wu Festival in China.
And it commemorates the death of a popular Chinese poet, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River more than 2,000 years ago to protest against corrupt rulers.
It is held on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Lunar Calendar. It falls on 10 June in 2024, 31 May in 2025, and 19 June in 2026 on the Gregorian Calendar.
According to legend, townspeople beat drums to scare fish away and threw sticky rice dumplings called zongzi into the sea to keep the fish from eating his body.
And from this somewhat macabre story comes the joyous spectacle of dragon boat racing.
In addition, everyone likes to feast on those yummy sticky rice dumplings that are a hallmark of the festival!
In This Post
June 2024 Dragon Boat Races in Hong Kong
Dragon Boat Races are held at several locations across Hong Kong on the holiday itself.
In addition, a lavish water parade is held in a fishing village on one of Hong Kong’s outlying island.Â
Finally, an international competition is held on the Saturday and Sunday following the holiday.
Aberdeen Dragon Boat Race – 10 June 2024
From 8.30 am to 4 pm at the Aberdeen Promenade West Typhoon Shelter on Hong Kong Island. Take Bus 70 From Exchange Square in Central.
Cheung Chau Dragon Boat Festival – 10 June 2024
From 10 am to 4.00 pm at the Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter on Cheung Chau. Take the Cheung Chau Ferry from the Central Pier #5. Boats leave every 30 minutes.
Eastern District Dragon Boat Race – 2 June 2024
From 8 am to 5 pm at the Chai Wan, Cargo Handling Area, Chai Wan Waterfront, on Hong Kong Island. Take the MTR to Chai Wan Station (Exit D), and walk through Chai Wan Park to Wing Tai Road. Turn onto Ka Yip Street and walk to the cargo working area.
Sai Kung Tuen Ng Festival – 10 June 2024
From 8 am to 2.30 pm at the Sai Kung Promenade in the New Territories. From Central or TST, take the MTR to Choi Hung Station then board the Green Minibus 1A. Alternatively, take the MTR to Diamond Hill Station, then hop on Bus 92 to Sai Kung.
Shatin Dragon Boat Races – 10 June 2024
From 8 am to 1 pm at the Shing Mun River, (starting close to Banyan Bridge and ending close to Sha Yin Bridge) in Sha Tin in the New Territories. Take the MTR to Sha Tin Station (Exit A), and walk through New Town Plaza to Sha Tin Park. Then walk along the riverside for about 10 minutes
Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships – 10 June 2024
From 8.00 am to (approximately) 5.00 pm at Stanley Main Beach on Hong Kong Island. Take the 6, 6A, or 6X bus from Central Bus Terminus on Hong Kong Island to Stanley, or take Bus 973 from Tsim Sha Tsui East Bus Terminus on the Kowloon Peninsula.
Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade – 9 to 10 June 2024
9 am to 1 pm on 9 June and 8.30 am to 3 pm on the Tai O Promenade on Lantau Island. Take Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) to Tung Chung Station and then the number 11 bus from Tung Chung Town Centre.
Tai Po Dragon Boat Race – 10 June 2024
From 8.30 am to 1 pm at the Tai Po Waterfront Park Promenade i the New Territories. Take bus 72A from MTR Tai Wai Station (Exit B). Alight at Tai Po Waterfront Park.
Tuen Mun Dragon Dragon Boat Race – 10 June 2024
From 9 am to 1 pm at the Castle Peak Bay, Area 44, Tuen Mun, in the New Territories. Take the Light Rail 614, 614P or 507 to Siu Hei Station or bus 59x from MTR Mong Kok East Station (Exit C) to Tuen Mun Ferry Pier. Then walk 10 minutes to the venue
Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races – 15 to 16 June 2024
From 8 am to 7 pm on Saturday and 8 am to 6 pm on Sunday off the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade on the Kowloon Peninsula.
The viewing zone stretches from the area in front of the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel to the Statue of Bruce Lee on the Avenue of Stars. There will be seating in the shade.Â
The viewing area is a five minute walk from the MTR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit J and an eight minute walk from the MTR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit P1.
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