Drums and dumplings: A complete calendar of Hong Kong dragon boat races Read more: Drums and dumplings: A complete calendar of Hong Kong dragon boat races

Hong Kong dragon boat races make for a brilliant combination of spectacle and sportsmanship each year, with a heavy dose of Chinese history and folklore.
The most popular story of the dragon boat races happens during the Warring States period in Chinese history when the poet and politician Qu Yuan drowned himself in protest against government corruption.
The villagers who supported Qu paddled out in boats to try and save his body. They banged drums and gongs to scare away any creatures in the water that might try to feed on Qu's body, eventually resorting to throwing rice dumplings into the water to distract the fish.
The boats, the drums and gongs, and the rice dumplings have become crucial elements that remain part of the dragon boat festival to this day.
Also read Secrets of the Dragon Boat Festival rice dumpling revealed.
On every fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar, the drums are attached to ornate dragon boats over 10 meters long. Teams of 20 to 22 paddlers sweat to the beat of the drum as they fight for the finish in Hong Kong's dragon boat races.
Meanwhile, the dragon boat dumplings, be they savory or sweet, will be fighting with other refreshments for space in the bellies of spectators thronging the beaches and waterfronts, cheering on their favorite team. Or favorite-looking. As with any decent sporting event in Hong Kong, team costumes are encouraged with prizes.The international race at Stanley is where the hottest dragon boat action takes place and has become the most renowned locally and internationally.
Later in the month, Victoria Harbour plays host to an equally popular three-day carnival of dragon races.
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If you can’t make the two big ticket events, fear not. The popularity of dragon boat races is such that the brightly colored water beasts can be found in many locales. Fill your calendar with this selection of Hong Kong dragon boat races:
Tai O Dragon Boat Race in Celebration of Tuen Ng Festival 2011
June 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tai O Sheltered Boat Anchorage, Tai O, Lantau Island.
2011 Macau International Dragon Boat Races
June 4, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., June 5-6, 10 a.m. – noon. and 2 - 4 p.m. Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, Macau, www.sport.gov.mo.
Eastern District Dragon Boat Race
June 5, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. At the Chai Wan Cargo Handling Basin, Chai Wan, chaiwan-dragonboat.yolasite.com.
Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Carnival 2011
June 5-6, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Races at Tai Pak Beach, Discovery Bay. Carnival at DB Plaza, Discovery Bay, www.dbay.hk.
Stanley International Dragon Boat Championship 2011
June 6, 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Stanley Main Beach, Stanley, www.dragonboat.org.hk.
2011 Aberdeen Dragon Boat Race
June 6, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Seafront of Aberdeen Promenade, Aberdeen, www.aberdeendragonboat.hk.

Shatin Dragon Boat Race 2011
June 6, 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Shing Mun River, Sha Tin (starting close to Banyan Bridge),  www.stsa.org.hk.

2011 The Sai Kung Dragon Boat Races Gala
June 6, 8 a.m. -1:30 p.m., Carnival from 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sai Kung Town Waterfront, Sai Kung,  www.skdragonboat.org.

Tuen Mun District Dragon Boat Races 2011
June 6, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Castle Peak Bay Typhoon Shelter, Area 44, Tuen Mun.

Tai Po District Dragon Boat Race 2011
June 6, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Promenade at Tai Po Waterfront Park, Tai Po, www.tpsa.org.hk.

Cheung Chau Dragon Boat Races
June 6, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter, Cheung Chau Island.

Sa Sa 2011 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races
June 17, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., June 18-19, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade,