Nantong engages intl students in Dragon Boat Festival celebrations

A Dragon Boat Festival-themed cultural exchange event commenced on May 29 at Wenfeng Park in Chongchuan district, Nantong. International students immersed themselves in traditional Chinese culture by wearing hanfu, crafting lacquer fans, and competing in dry-land dragon boat racing.

The event featured three curated sections—festive customs, a folk market, and games—to create an interactive cultural space. Participants from around the world expressed friendship through songs and dances. Attendees from Namibia, Uganda, and Pakistan delivered heartfelt renditions of Great China, conveying their affection for the country they live in.

In the bustling folk market, crowds gathered at creative craft stalls featuring zongzi (rice dumplings) and traditional lacquer fans. Sanjoana from Laos, holding her handmade mugwort sachet, remarked: "Each stitch embodies Chinese reverence for nature—such craftsmanship is mesmerizing."

The event reached its peak during the game segment. Participants tested their knowledge of Dragon Boat Festival traditions with playful poetry quizzes and engaged in traditional games like chuiwan (Chinese golf), touhu (pitch-pot), and dry-land dragon boat racing.

Since early 2025, Chongchuan has been holding monthly cultural events such as Lantern Festival Peking Opera mask painting, spring market of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), and blue calico flash mob collaborations. Moving forward, the district aims to further utilize Chinese ICH as an engine, creating opportunities for mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations.

International students dress in traditional hanfu and engage in a diverse array of traditional Chinese cultural experiences. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]