HONG KONG - The annual Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival, was celebrated across Hong Kong Monday.

Dragon boat races or parades are the signature of this festival celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

Rowers power the dragon boats with their paddles. As the boats inch closer to the finishing line, the cheers, drumbeats get louder in tandem with frantic splashing of the "dragon boat water" thought to bring good luck.

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Zongzi - glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves - is also eaten on this day as part of the festive ritual.

Long boats with 48 paddlers and smaller boats with mixed crews participated in a dragon boat race in Aberdeen on Monday. China Daily photographer Edmond Tang was there to capture the moments.