Qu Yuan's cultural legacy powers Dragon Boat Festival economic boom

The Dragon Boat Festival is not just about honoring Qu Yuan, although the patriotic poet would probably have been thrilled to see how his legacy has evolved. What began as a solemn remembrance has transformed into a vibrant celebration that is sending people's heartbeats and cash registers racing. The 2,000-year-old tradition just proved that even in 2025 it remains one of China's most dynamic economic engines, blending cultural heritage with modern consumer power.

Over three sun-drenched days from May 31 to June 2, altogether 657 million trips were undertaken by road, rail or waterways in China. That means almost half of China's population was on the move simultaneously. The numbers tell the story: driven by the dragon boat fever, passenger trips increased 3 percent year-on-year.

Data from travel services provider Qunar showed that, as of Monday, searches with keywords such as dragon boat and zongzi more than doubled compared with the same period a month ago, and bookings for destinations offering folk culture experience rose by more than 40 percent as travelers scrambled to secure their bookings.