Duanwu Festival: Tradition Chinese festival celebrated in Manchester

World
Europe

01:30

The Duanwu Festival is becoming more and more prominent around the world, and the activities that go with it are helping foreigners to gain a more qualified understanding of traditional Chinese culture. Let's take a look at how a Chinese community in England is promoting the special occasion.

Salford, in Greater Manchester, is home to thouands of people of Chinese origin. They staged their sixth dragon boat festival this year, and the event attracted as many as 32 teams. Hundreds of spectators lined the river, cheering on the teams, and enjoying the various displayed pagentry that went with the day's festivities.

After five hours of intense competition, it was a team of local policemen who took home first prize. And, of course, no Dragon Boat Festival would be complete without a good helping of sticky rice dumplings. However, many communities in England eat an alternative to the tradional zongzi called Ba Zhang.

CHINESE THAI "We only use ingredients imported from China because they are the best for Zongzi. We are Chinese and have relatives in China."

Following a practice in southern China's Guangdong province, Chinese Thais prefer to put seasoned pork in their zongzi, rather than the sweet jujubes in northern China.

The festival is also a chance for family reunions and prayers for good fortune.