"Long did I sigh and wipe away my tears,
To see my people bowed by grieves and fears.
...
The people's sufferings move my heart,
Our land I cannot leave."

Each year, during the Duanwu Festival, the day of Qu's death, people race dragon boats to honor him. This practice is believed to be a representation of how the people of Chu tried, time and time again, to recover Qu's body from the Miluo River. Although Qu's life was a tragic one, as a poet, he achieved great success. In fact, Qu is considered the first poet in Chinese literature since before his time only folk songs existed. He created a new style of poetry, which became known as Chu Ci .

Others say that the Duanwu Festival originated from dragon worship. In ancient China, people believed that dragons were the gods of water, which was vital to daily life and agricultural production. On the day of Duanwu, people raced dragon boats to entertain the gods, offering them zong zi to eat. The sole purpose of the event was to appease the gods for an agreeable climate.

Some people believe that Duanwu comes from activities instigated by ancient sorcerers. Such activities were held in the early summer before the heat brought diseases to those who did not have access to modern facilities and medicine. Ancient sorcerers, therefore, encouraged people to wear fragrant pouches around their necks and hang mugwort and calamus on their doors to drive away evil.