On May 31st, the International Exchange College of Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST) and Hongtai Property jointly hosted a special Dragon Boat Festival event themed "Zongzi Aroma Crosses Borders, Deep Affection Unites at SDUST.
More than 80 international teachers and students from over 20 countries, including the United States, Indonesia, and Morocco, joined hands with Chinese teachers and students to engage in an immersive experience of Dragon Boat Festival traditions and share cross-border friendship.
At the start of the event, an international student representative shared the origins of thelegend and cultural connotations of the Dragon Boat Festival—covering the patriotic spirit of Qu Yuan (a renowned ancient Chinese poet who drowned himself for his country) and the evolution of folk customs such as dragon boat racing and sachet-wearing. This helped both international and Chinese teachers and students gain a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage behind this traditional festival.
Subsequently, in the cultural experience session, Chinese and international participants worked together to make zongzi. Every step, from selecting bamboo leaves to filling them with ingredients, was filled with novelty and joy. Finally, the group learned to make Dragon Boat Festival sachets and five-colored strings; each stitch and thread conveyed the beautiful meaning of praying for blessings and good fortune. Assembling dragon boat models also allowed everyone to experience the "dragon boat spirit" of unity and perseverance through collaboration.
In recent years, Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST) has been committed to building a "traditional festival +" cultural education brand. Taking traditional festivals such as Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival as opportunities, it innovatively carries out a four-in-one cultural experience activity system of "learning, doing, tasting, and comprehending". This initiative enables international students to understand "Chinese stories", savor "Chinese flavors", and feel "Chinese warmth" through immersive experiences.
