These days, besides bikini-clad bods hogging the beaches, you’ll also start to notice dragon boat paddlers hard at work just beyond the shores. Chances are they’re prepping for the myriad races that will be taking place during the Tuen Ng festival—the origins (you know, where scholar Qu Yuan drowns himself and locals toss rice dumplings into the water and bang drums to prevent his body from being eaten) of which are now a mere footnote to the actual festivities.

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