International students experience festival fun in Qu Yuan’s hometown
2023-06-23 19:06:36
Reported by Chen Zai, Lei Chuntao.
Photo by Chen Long, Zhang Kai, Jiang Qian.
Zongzi, the triangular glutinous rice dumpling which symbolizes the patriotic poet Qu Yuan's noble character of not yielding to corrupted power, aroused the students' curiosity. They watched with great interest how locals made them with their deft hands.
The students were also invited to do it by themselves as well. Folding leaves, stuffing rice, compressing, and wrapping up -- the simple procedures of making zongzi brought them a lot of fun. With the help from the local zongzi-making “teachers”, the students learned the craft and had a great time in making them.
Immersed in the fun of making food by himself, Bangladesh student Al Shahriar suddenly felt homesickness. "I miss my hometown now, so much," said the student, whose Chinese name is Liu Yang.
Xu was born before the founding of the People's Republic of China. She recalled when she was young, how she walked barefoot with friends to watch the dragon boat racing.
As a hospitable host, she welcomed her international guests with sweet watermelons, fresh plums, and tender cucumbers.
Photo by Chen Long, Zhang Kai, Jiang Qian.
A group of Generation Z foreign students from China Three Gorges University visited the Hometown of Qu Yuan Scenic Area in Zigui County, Yichang City on June 21 to experience local traditions and culture in celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival. The students from countries including Bangladesh, Rwanda and Tanzania joined one of the sessions of the “My China Surprise – In Yichang” cultural exchange program.
The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate Qu Yuan (c. 340 - 278 BC), a patriotic poet and politician in the state of Chu during China's Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) who committed suicide by drowning himself in the river after hearing that his state had fallen.
Local people welcomed the students to join their competition for making zongzi, which was being held to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.
Zongzi, the triangular glutinous rice dumpling which symbolizes the patriotic poet Qu Yuan's noble character of not yielding to corrupted power, aroused the students' curiosity. They watched with great interest how locals made them with their deft hands.
The students were also invited to do it by themselves as well. Folding leaves, stuffing rice, compressing, and wrapping up -- the simple procedures of making zongzi brought them a lot of fun. With the help from the local zongzi-making “teachers”, the students learned the craft and had a great time in making them.
Immersed in the fun of making food by himself, Bangladesh student Al Shahriar suddenly felt homesickness. "I miss my hometown now, so much," said the student, whose Chinese name is Liu Yang.
After making zongzi, the students were invited to the home of zongzi master Xu Keying to know more about the life of local people.
Xu was born before the founding of the People's Republic of China. She recalled when she was young, how she walked barefoot with friends to watch the dragon boat racing.
She said that her family originally lived in Xujiachong Harbor, where the Dragon Boat World Cup was being held this year. She said her family was relocated to make way for the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.
As a hospitable host, she welcomed her international guests with sweet watermelons, fresh plums, and tender cucumbers.
