Eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节, 5th day of 5th lunar month) to commemorate the poet Qu Yuan. Northern China favors sweet fillings (red bean, dates), while southern China prefers savory (pork, egg yolk).
history
Legend says locals threw rice into the river to prevent fish from eating Qu Yuan's body after he drowned himself in 278 BC. This evolved into the tradition of wrapping rice in leaves.
