Dragon Boat Festival: Zongzi-making with over 500 locals in Foshan

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The Dragon Boat Festival is packed with Chinese cultural celebrations, both old and new. The favorite food of many on this annual holiday is Zongzi.

And I was lucky enough to take part in a huge Zongzi- making event for the first time in southern China’s Guangdong Province.

Several communities in Daliang, Shunde District, gathered together to make a “boatload” of the pyramid-shaped, bamboo-wrapped glutinous rice dumplings known as Zongzi.

Reporter Jenny Cortes Ybañez makes Zongzi with locals in Foshan, Guangdong Province, June 17, 2018. /CGTN Photo

"Before, families used to make Zongzi at home. So we decided to start holding a large-scale Zongzi-making activity all in one place," organizer Sun Lili said, explaining the reason behind the event. "And this year it's the biggest yet, with over 500 people from all communities in Daliang in attendance."

Many brought their younger family members so that they could experience this tradition, and for others, it was an opportunity to enjoy the occasion together.

"I am here with my nephew. I want to teach him how to make Zongzi. I think it would be a very meaningful activity for him. We are very happy to be here," said Li Jinhuan, a local resident.

Local resident Li Jinhuan teaches her nephew how to make Zongzi. /CGTN Photo

We then approached and spoke to Lu Weiguo, who came with his friends. "I am here with a group of volunteers from my community. Most of us are retirees. We enjoy the festival atmosphere here. And we are also glad to help people who are in need in our community."

Event participants proudly show off their Zongzi. /CGTN Photo

At this event alone, they made well over 3,000 Zongzi. I was lucky enough to be taught how to make and prepare the Zongzi by a local expert.

And although the process is simple, there’s a technique to wrapping the leaves and tying them with a piece of string. So it took a few tries before I could wrap the sticky rice correctly.

Once the event was over, all the rice dumplings were distributed to the less fortunate families and the elderly in the surrounding neighborhoods. So after all the hard but fun work, it was definitely worth it. As you know, it’s for a good cause!