In the river where Qu Yuan jumped into, the annual dragon boat race was held by the local government for its eighth year.

"People came to rescue Qu Yuan after he threw himself into the Miluo River, which was suddenly crowded with hundreds of boats. It later on became a tradition to have a boat race every year," said Xu Weiming, curator of Qu Yuan Memorial Museum in Miluo city in central China's Hubei province.

"The race was neither feisty nor riddled with profits. People believe that to win the race will bring them good luck for a whole year," said Huang Huashan, a folklore expert in the city.

The boat races have always attracted crowds of people to join with their beautiful dragon boats and hundreds of thousands people to cheer from the banks, Huang said. The municipal government changed the races into a sport in 2005.

Now dragon boat races are not only held in China but around the world.

"Dragon boat crafts should not be lost in this generation. I would like to teach anyone if he or she wants," the old man said.