French children experience Dragon Boat Festival in Yichang
2024-05-28 17:05:04
Journalist: Tan Maolin, Tian Dongming, Gao Ran
Photographer: Fu Beibei
Photographer: Fu Beibei
On May 27, 15 children from France experienced Dragon Boat Festival traditions for the first time with children from Yichang’s Gezihua Art Troupe.
The French group was invited by the China Central TV Station for a program they were shooting. The TV station recorded a similar program last year, during which two groups of children from France and Yichang sang “If I Go To China” together from their respective cities. This tour serves as a sequel to last year’s program.
On the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, CCTV invited a group of French children to visit the country. Before Yichang, they had visited Beijing, Shaolin Temple in Henan Province and Chengdu in Sichuan Province.
At the Three Gorges Bamboo Sea Ecological Scenic Spot, two groups of children raced in dragon boats. "It’s very interesting! This is the first time for me to paddle a dragon boat. We have to paddle together to move faster," said French girl Luxi (identified in the program as her Chinese name 露溪).
On the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, CCTV invited a group of French children to visit the country. Before Yichang, they had visited Beijing, Shaolin Temple in Henan Province and Chengdu in Sichuan Province.
At the Three Gorges Bamboo Sea Ecological Scenic Spot, two groups of children raced in dragon boats. "It’s very interesting! This is the first time for me to paddle a dragon boat. We have to paddle together to move faster," said French girl Luxi (identified in the program as her Chinese name 露溪).
Chinese and French children learn to wrap rice dumplings.
In the intangible heritage alley of Zigui, 70-year-old inheritor of Dragon Boat Festival customs Wang Yuxin taught Chinese and French children how to wrap rice dumplings (Zongzi) and make colorful ropes.
Chinese and French children show off their rice dumplings.
Chinese and French children show off their rice dumplings.
At the end, both groups of children sang in both French and Chinese. The song name will be revealed when the program is aired around the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, which lands on June 10 this year.
Hu Shengyang, a member of Yichang Gezihua Art Troupe who participated in the program had this to say: "I had become friends with our French guests during this day. I hope I will have a chance to visit their country." Gezihua refers to the flower of the Chinese dove tree, an ornamental tree originating in Yichang.
Hu Shengyang, a member of Yichang Gezihua Art Troupe who participated in the program had this to say: "I had become friends with our French guests during this day. I hope I will have a chance to visit their country." Gezihua refers to the flower of the Chinese dove tree, an ornamental tree originating in Yichang.
