Page 289 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA 281
SABAH FCAS INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT RACE
Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah,
7th Floor, Karamunsing Complex 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
T (088) 253 433
W sabahdragonboat.com
IN BRIEF
Held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar (which usually falls from late May to mid-June), the Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race celebrates the 2000- year history of the Duanwu Festival, honouring the great poet Qu Yuan and the dragon spirit of the Chinese people.
MAIN FEATURES
Formerly a local tradition among Sabahan Chinese,
the race has grown
to become an IDBF- sanctioned international competition, attracting elite crews from all
over Asia; 89 local and international teams took part in the 2019 race. It is a
LOCATION / ROUTE
Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu. Unobstructed views of the races available from the shoreline along the bay.
HOW TO GET THERE
Taxi or bus from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Likas Bay. From city centre or Kota Kinabalu Waterfront, City Bus 1A.
The drummers work as hard as the paddlers, pounding out the stroke rhythm and driving the race tempo.
The short 200 and 800 metre dragon boat courses make for exciting neck and neck racing.
major community event and
a great day out for all in the family. Visitors can enjoy two days of thrilling racing as the multicoloured long zhou (boats decorated with ferocious- looking dragon heads) compete
to the beat of pounding drums. Delicious local delicacies are offered from the stalls set up along the bay, most notably the tasty zongzi rice dumplings which were originally eaten
in memory of Qu Yuan.
Sabah Governor Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Juhar Mahiruddin gets the 2019 race underway by hitting the ceremonial gong.