Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival in Sanya: A Guide to Five Local Traditions
Deeply rooted in Chinese culture, the Dragon Boat Festival takes on a distinctive maritime character along Hainan’s long coastline. In Sanya, a city shaped by the sea and the rich traditions of its Tanka fishing communities, the festival is more than a seasonal milestone: it is a time-honoured celebration that draws people to the island’s shores and waterways. From crowds gathering at noon for the ritual of “dragon-water bathing” to dragon boats racing through the waves, these customs carry generations of respect for nature and hopes for a better life. Discover five local traditions that reveal the living cultural heritage of the Dragon Boat Festival in Sanya.
01 | Dragon-Water Bathing
Few Dragon Boat Festival customs in Sanya carry as much significance as dragon-water bathing. A local saying holds that the festival is not complete without it, and on the day itself, residents flock to the beaches to take part.
According to local belief, noon is the auspicious moment when the Dragon God enters the water to bathe. Those who enter the sea at the same time symbolically share in the dragon’s blessings, wishing for a smooth year ahead and protection from misfortune.
Today, this ancient practice has become a communal celebration of good fortune. For one day, the South China Sea becomes a vast setting for ritual bathing, holding the community’s heartfelt hopes for health and peace.
02 | Dragon Boat Racing
Dragon boat racing is a highlight of Sanya’s festival celebrations. More than a contest of strength and speed, it echoes the long history of Tanka fishing communities living and working with the forces of nature.
Gongs and drums resound along the banks as paddlers call out “One, two! One, two!” in unison. Stroke by stroke, the boats surge forward, cutting through the water. In local tradition, these races were a way to honour the sea deity and pray for favourable weather and safe fishing voyages.
Amid flying spray and rhythmic cheers, the races express the solidarity, courage and determination of the island’s seafaring communities.
03 | Hanging Mugwort
The fragrance of mugwort is part of the atmosphere of the Dragon Boat Festival. On tropical Hainan, the festival falls during a season when mosquitoes and flies thrive, and aromatic plants have long held a place in customs associated with warding off harm and wishing for good health.
In Sanya, the tradition reflects the local environment. Fresh mugwort is bundled with sweet flag, areca palm blossoms, pandanus blossoms and other locally available plants, then hung above doorways. Their gentle fragrance carries the family’s hopes for health and well-being.
The plants are also simmered in water for washing or bathing. Traditionally associated with easing summer heat and dispelling “dampness”, these herbal baths form part of the festival’s rituals for welcoming peace and good fortune into the home.
04 | Sharing a Festive Chicken Dish
In Chinese, the words for “chicken” and “good fortune” sound alike. This association gives chicken a special place on Sanya’s festive table. Alongside rice dumplings, one dish is considered indispensable at the Dragon Boat Festival: gently poached chicken, cut into pieces for serving.
With its golden skin and familiar, deeply satisfying flavour, the dish expresses a simple wish for prosperity and family togetherness. Serving chicken is more than a culinary habit; it gives the festival meal a sense of occasion rooted in generations of island life.
05 | Eating Zongzi
Zongzi—leaf-wrapped parcels of glutinous rice—are enjoyed throughout the day during the Dragon Boat Festival in Sanya, from breakfast to the evening meal.
Preparations often begin the night before, when families set large aluminium pots over wood fires in their courtyards and leave the parcels to simmer slowly. The fragrance of banana leaves drifts through the night air.
Local favourites include fillings of pork with salted egg yolk, pork ribs and seafood. Soft, sticky rice absorbs the rich savoury flavours, while salted egg yolks add their characteristic crumbly texture.
On the festival day, neighbours exchange homemade zongzi. Along with the food come laughter, conversation and the warmth of everyday community life.
From the crowds gathering in the midday surf to the fragrant plants hanging above doorways; from the chants of dragon boat crews to the aroma of chicken and rice dumplings shared around courtyard tables, Sanya’s Dragon Boat Festival is woven into everyday life. Its spirit lives in heartfelt greetings between neighbours and in the city’s enduring relationship with the sea.
This Dragon Boat Festival, discover Sanya’s shoreline traditions, taste locally made zongzi and experience the warmth of a coastal culture passed down through generations.