Full coverage: Dragon Boat Festival

People across China are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu on Thursday. It's always celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calender. Let's check in on some of the scenes around the country.

Competing team members, loudly beating their drums. Welcome to one of this year's dragon boat races. In the southern China's Hunan province, these determined crews row their colorful dragon boats forward to the rhythm of the drums. Races were held all across the country.

Another festival classic is eating sticky rice dumplings, known as Zongzi. Wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, Zongzi is the must-have food of the festival. During this season, many insects and pests are active. To repel them, people put mugwort leaves on their doors or windows.

Not forgetting the children and in some places, they bathe in tubs of water with ai, an herb. It is believed to be a way to defend against bad luck. Duanwu is the festival to commemorate the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who committed suicide out of love for his country.