In China the Dragon-Boat Festival is also called 端午节 (Duanwu festival). And also itis widely known for the ceremony called Dragon boat competition during the festival period,so it can also been called Dragon-bout Festival .
As it has been existed for over two thausand years there are different origins of this festival , and the overwhelming knowledge about the origin is that the festival is set to commemorate the great patriot ang poet (屈原)Quyuan.
Here is some gerenal imformation about Quyuan
he was born in the warring states period, three or four century BC. And as a high official officer of Chu country (楚国)(a country during the warring states period ) he can defent his country from others' invasion for his high position. But later his emperor did not trust him for others' gossip who envy his powerful leadership or his talent .Later he was banished and got down to making his poem in which he experessed his unfinished ambition and his pity for the miserable life those still live in Chu country. When knowing that his country was occupied by Qin country he committed suicide, throwing himself to a river call 汨罗江。 And at the same time his great poems was widely spread
Then the people started to commemorate the great person . And it became a custom the still existed nowadays . and then itis a festival .
During this festival period we eat 粽子 (Zongzi) play Dragon-boat Competition .
There are stories about these activities . Itis considered that the Dragon-boat competition ceremony originated from the rowing to rescue Qu When Qu jumped into the river. And the 粽子 are thrown into the river to protect his body from the fish