Dragon Boat Festival Activities

The Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is one of the major traditional cultural festivals in China. The ancient water and land city gate and city wall preserved in Suzhou is the only one in the world, built by Wu Zixu during the Spring and Autumn period. It is said that after Wu Zixu died, he transformed into the "God of Waves" to protect the rivers, lakes, and seas. Therefore, people set up temples to worship him. To commemorate Wu Zixu, the Panmen Scenic Area has specially built a temple and statue for him, and every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, they hold ceremonies to honor this outstanding politician, military strategist, and urban planner who made significant contributions to the people of Wu.

On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, the Panmen Scenic Area will hold a series of folk activities to recreate the market atmosphere of the Dragon Boat Festival in Wu, showcasing the charm of Suzhou's traditional culture. At that time, the scenic area will host a series of Dragon Boat Festival activities, including hanging calamus, mugwort, zongzi, and five poisonous flags; climbing the city tower for a panoramic view to guide visitors in appreciating the full view of Panmen, as well as performances of folk customs of the Dragon Boat Festival in Wu, with rich and colorful content that is refreshing.