As the Dragon Boat Festival approached, the International Education College (IEC) organized the "Fragrant Rice Dumplings, Compassionate Red Doctors’ Stories" cultural event on May 27 to celebrate China’s rich traditional heritage and foster cross-cultural exchange among faculty and students. Participants engaged in hands-on activities such as making Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), crafting herbal sachets, constructing dragon boat models, and tying five-color silk bracelets, while also participating in a quiz on Dragon Boat Festival traditions and listening to stories about the Red Doctors’ stories. The event offered a unique blend of cultural immersion and historical education, creating an unforgettable experience for all attendees.
Cultural Workshops: Hands-On Learning
The event featured four interactive zones designed to engage participants in traditional customs. In the Zongzi-making area, students from China and abroad learned to fold bamboo leaves, stuff glutinous rice, and add red dates under the guidance of experienced volunteers. CONSTANCE CLEMENCE MPANGILE from Tanzania expressed her excitement, saying, "Although making Zongzi was challenging, it was incredibly fun to experience Chinese culture firsthand." Many Chinese students noted that this was their first time making Zongzi, the memorable experiences shared with international peers. In the herbal sachet workshop, Chinese language instructor Ms. Xie Chunyan demonstrated the art of creating fragrant pouches filled with mugwort, explaining the symbolic significance of warding off evil spirits and promoting health. Students collaborated to assemble sachets with intricate beadwork, fostering cross-cultural teamwork. The dragon boat artisan workshop allowed participants to craft miniature dragon boat models filled with aromatic herbs, cleverly merging the tradition of dragon boat racing with the practice of repelling insects during the festival. Meanwhile, in the five-color silk bracelet area, students threaded colorful beads shaped like Zongzi onto silk threads, creating vibrant bracelets that doubled as meaningful talismans.
Quiz Session: Deepening Cultural Understanding
Prior to the event, the IEC incorporated Dragon Boat Festival history into its curriculum, covering topics such as the legend of Qu Yuan, dragon boat racing, and Zongzi customs. The on-site quiz session further reinforced this knowledge, with enthusiastic participation from both Chinese and international students. The interactive format deepened participants’ appreciation for the festival’s cultural roots and historical significance.
Red Doctors’ Stories: Lessons in Compassion
A highlight of the event was the "Red Doctors’ Stories During Dragon Boat Festival" exhibition, which showcased nine true historical accounts, including "Zhu De Celebrating Dragon Boat Festival with Soldiers", "Aunt Zhou Lan Delivering Zongzi in the Rain" and "Herbal Medicine During the Long March." These narratives illuminated the Red Doctors’ spirit—a legacy of dedication to public health rooted in revolutionary history—while linking it to the festival’s traditions of community and resilience.
By combining hands-on cultural activities with educational components, the event successfully bridged traditions and modernity, fostering mutual respect and understanding among participants. It served as a testament to the IEC’s commitment to promoting intercultural dialogue and preserving China’s rich heritage.
