The traditional Chinese Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is getting near.

As this is the first year that a three-day national holiday has been set during the festival period, many have been busy making vacation plans.

An article on Xinhuanet.com says people should focus more on the cultural significance of the festival rather than just seeing it as a holiday opportunity.

The author of the article says there are many traditional activities to observe during the Duanwu festival.

For example, eating Zongzi, a rice ball wrapped in reeds or bamboo leaves; drinking realgar wine; hanging artemisia leaves and racing dragon boats.

Each of these activities carries its own special cultural significance that has been handed down for thousands of years.

The author says modern society shouldn't forget them as they're a part of traditional Chinese culture.

The article also stresses the origins of the festival which is believed to commemorate the loyalty and honesty of the suicide poet Qu Yuan around 2,200 years ago.

It notes Qu Yuan's admirable qualities should continue to be praised and remembered by modern society.

Finally the author suggests that the tourism department organize related activities to uphold the festive atmosphere, while the culture department publish Duanwu themed productions to promote the cultural meaning of the festival.

In this way, the author says people can further understand traditional Chinese culture and learn from it.