The Qu Yuan Cultural Research Institute jointly established by the People's Government of Yichang City and the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences was officially unveiled on December 3. The two sides signed an agreement on the same day, aiming for breakthroughs in the inheritance and development of Qu Yuan culture.

According to the agreement, the two parties will cooperate in the academic research of Qu Yuan culture, academic exchanges and academic communication, launch research results with international influence, build a permanent venue for the "Qu Yuan Cultural Research International Forum", and strive to build a leading domestic and world-class Qu Yuan Cultural Research Center. The two parties will form the Qu Yuan Cultural Exchange Development Alliance at home and abroad, set up the "Qu Yuan Cultural International Exchange and Dissemination Center", and regularly hold annual meetings, forums, and other major cultural exchange activities with international influence.

Qu Yuan was born in Zigui County, Yichang City. The local culture enjoys a long history with profound traditions in poetry. Various Dragon Boat Festival customs have been passed down to this day. The Dragon Boat Festival custom in Qu Yuan’s hometown was included in the List of Representative Works of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Dragon Boat Cultural Festival in Qu Yuan’s hometown has been held in Yichang for a long time. In 2014, the Poetry Institute of China awarded Yichang the title of “City of Poetry”.