Croatian tourists embrace Chinese culture during Dragon Boat Festival in Suzhou

More than 30 Croatian tourists have experienced the rich traditional Chinese culture in Lili Ancient Town in Suzhou City of east China's Jiangsu Province as they participated in the vibrant celebrations of the Dragon Boat Festival, which fell on Saturday this year.

Dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, they toured the streets of the primitive, beautiful, elegant, and serene water town, took sightseeing boats, made sticky rice dumplings and sachets under the guidance of local residents, to relish in the festive vibe.

"We are here for the first time and it's a really great atmosphere," said a Croatian tourist.

Originating in China thousands of years ago, the Dragon Boat Festival, which commemorates the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (about 340-278 B.C.) on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month on the lunar Chinese calendar, has now become a national holiday. People enjoy Zongzi, known as sticky rice dumplings, and watch dragon boat races on the day.

Apart from racing dragon boats and eating Zongzi, there are many other interesting traditions and activities on the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival. People often wear herbal sachets to avoid catching contagious diseases and hang calamus and wormwood leaves over their doors and windows to repel harmful insects. Since the shape of calamus leaves is sword-like, hanging the plant is also believed to dispel evil and bring health to the family.

"I felt a challenge and a bit of distress at the beginning, but then everything came up together and my love for food, for Chinese food, I think, kept me and gave me some luck because I got it right in the end," said a Croatian tourist who shared her experience in wrapping zongzi.

"We think it's very beautiful, authentic old Chinese town. We were looking forward for it for like four days. We are waiting four days to come here and to dress like you like in your old clothes," said another Croatian tourist while talking about his keen interest in this China trip.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 20 pips to 7.0108 against the U.S. dollar Monday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the U.S. dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.