More than 30 international students from Shanghai University gathered at Hede Culinary Studio in the 1876 New Vision Creative Park on the afternoon of June 19 for a hands-on zongzi-making session, as part of a Dragon Boat Festival cultural experience event hosted by the university.

The students first attended a talk on the Dragon Boat Festival. They learned about its origins, the story of Qu Yuan, and the meanings behind dragon boat races, zongzi, and mugwort leaves. The speaker was Chen Xiumeng, deputy Party secretary of the university's International Department and associate dean of the College of International Education. Using the bamboo leaves, glutinous rice, red dates, and twine laid out on the table as visual aids, he also showed them how zongzi differ between northern and southern China — from fillings to wrapping styles.

After the talk, the chef team at Hede Culinary Studio took over. They demonstrated the entire process — folding the leaves, adding the filling, shaping the bundle, and tying it off. The students followed along, learning the craft from scratch.

For most of the students, it was their first time making zongzi. Not surprisingly, the early attempts were messy — rice spilling out, leaves coming undone, bundles taking odd shapes. But they kept at it, helping each other out and slowly getting the hang of it. The mood was light and playful. One by one, the zongzi took shape. Each misshapen bundle wrapped up not just sticky rice and sweet fillings, but also the students' curiosity about the festival and the friendships taking shape across cultures.

"The bamboo leaves smell so fresh," said a Vietnamese student. "I thought making zongzi would be easy, but there's real skill involved." She noted that while Vietnam has its own rice dumpling traditions, making the Chinese-style version gave her a much deeper and more vivid understanding of the Dragon Boat Festival and its customs. Other students from Russia and the Seychelles pulled out their phones to capture the process, sharing their experience with family and friends back home through photos and videos.

Through zongzi-making, the event offered international students a window into Chinese culture — and a space where traditions from around the world could come together.

 Wishing everyone a peaceful Dragon Boat Festival.

Shanghai University has long made Chinese culture education a priority for its international students, offering regular hands-on activities throughout the year. Through these cultural experiences, the university aims to help its overseas students better understand the country, connect with its people, and build lasting friendships with their Chinese peers.

Source: Shanghai University