Dragon Boat Festival celebrated in northern Russian city

Chinese consulate general in this northern Russian city of St. Petersburg on Monday hosted an event marking the Dragon Boat Festival, with about 100 guests in attending to celebrate the traditional holiday of China.

Chinese Consul-General in St. Petersburg, Ji Yanchi, explained the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival in his address to the gathering, and encouraged the Chinese in the audience to follow the example of the patriotic Qu Yuan in seeking to serve the nation.

At the reception, attendees were entertained by performances, including a poetry reading done by Qiao Xiangpeng, a Chinese language instructor with St. Petersburg State University faculty, a piano rendition of Chinese music literally known as "River on a Spring Night" and a show of dance belonging to the ethnic Dai group.

Guests were also treated with zongzi, a kind of sweet, glutinous rice dumplings, prepared by consular staff.

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. It fell on Monday this year. The festival commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan born in the fourth century BC Chinese people prepare and eat zongzi, drink wine and race dragon boats on the day.