Every year, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, crews of paddlers re-enact the legend of Qu Yuan. They power long, narrow boats, their prows mounted with ferocious dragon heads, through the water, to the frenzied, rhythmic beating of drums. From Friday to Sunday, Victoria Harbour hosts the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races. On this page, we study how an ancient Chinese tradition has evolved into a competitive global sport