The earliest known record about the Dragon Boat Festival is written in "Mu Tianzi Zhuan" (Biography of Emperor Mu). As for its origin, the most popular one is that it commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan in the Chu kingdom. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the year 278 BC, Qu Yuan threw himself into the Mi-Lo River because the king of Chu did not recognize his correct stand nor appreciate his suggestions for governing the country. Additionally, treacherous officials slandered him. The people of Chu pitied him and rushed in their boats to try to save him. Later, similar stories emerged and to this day, the story of Qu Yuan remains the strongest link to the festival's origins. Dragon-boat racing gradually developed into a professional competition with governmental influence from local folk to finally forming a dragon-boat sport culture.

　　In the southern Song dynasty, large-scale dragon boat competitions existed in Guangdong. During the Ming and the Qing dynasties, governments of Guangdong and civilian activities of dragon boat racing became even more popular.

　　Dragon boat s is divided into two categories: "professional dragon boats" and "amateur dragon boats." The former are only used for competition while the latter are temporarily refit by boats used in production and will resume their original roles after competition.

　　All dragon boats have similar structures on the whole: the body of boat, dragonhead, dragon tail, all kinds of decorating accessories, gong and drum. Most dragonheads are carved using an entire piece of log. Dragonheads are affixed to the front of the boat just before the race for both professional dragon boats and amateur dragon boats. Various dragonheads exist depending on the local custom. Cock dragonhead of West River in Guangzhou and Big-head Dog dragonhead of East River in Guangzhou are two types with special features. Most dragonheads are dyed red, so they are often called "red dragon." Some of them are dyed black or gray, and are thus called "black dragon" or "gray dragon." Most dragon tails are carved from an entire log, covered with scutums.

　　Special customs and traditions are followed in different areas of China during the Dragon Boat Festival. In Jiangxi province, dragon boats, made from bamboo in addition to the wood, are carried on the shoulders of men and paraded around the streets. Such activities attracted watchers near and far. In Wutongqiao in Sichuan province and Wujing County in Zhejiang province, the dragon boat races are held at night. The dragon boats are decorated with lamps and colored strips. Some use colored lights as eyes of the dragon; some set floating fires on water's surface. Dragon boats rush in pairs among the fires, creating an effect like dragons flying above the water's surface.