Foreigners in China experience Duanwu Festival customs

Foreign visitors in multiple Chinese cities immersed themselves in Zongzi-making and dragon boat racing, two traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival, gaining a hands-on experience of traditional Chinese culture while sharing the joy of the festival with the local people.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it fell on June 19.

In Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, many foreign visitors took part in local intangible cultural heritage workshops where they got to make Zongzi with their own hands.

"So many people gather together to celebrate this festival and eat together. It's really good," said a visitor from Pakistan.

In Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, international students rolled up their sleeves alongside residents, stuffing rice with fillings, folding bamboo leaves, and tying the bundles with string. They also crafted scented sachets, a traditional item associated with the festival.

"This is my first time making Zongzi. They're stuffed with beans and red dates. The whole process was so fun. Traditional Chinese culture holds deep significance," said a student from Russia.

"Zongzi smelled amazing, and the atmosphere was wonderful. Everyone here felt just like one big family," said a student from Morocco.

Beyond Zongzi-making, foreign visitors in Beijing also raced dragon boats.

"This is my first time seeing such an activity, being involved in some traditional experience. It's good to interact with a lot of people. Riding a boat is very fun as well," said a visitor from Brazil.

Foreigners in China experience Duanwu Festival customs

A survivor of the train collision in eastern England described scenes of blood and chaos, as authorities confirmed one death and 89 injuries.

The collision occurred around 17:15 local time on Friday near Bedford when a Luton Airport Express service struck an East Midlands Railway train. Among the injured, 11 sustained very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 suffered minor injuries, according to the East of England Ambulance Service.

A survivor, who was traveling from Nottingham to London, recalled the horrible scenes she saw.

"We saw broken legs, we saw face bleeding, we saw jaws chipped. And a lot of women, they cracked their cheekbone, nose. I think because of the impact they hit the seats, yes, so a lot of injuries on the face, nose, jaw, chin were impacted. A lot of people had bruises all over their hand. And that's why there was so much blood. There were people traveling alone, there were kids traveling alone, 17 years, 16 years old. So it was, that's when it hit us that we were so lucky," she said.

The ambulance service deployed more than 20 ambulances, specialist Hazardous Area Response Teams and six air ambulances to the scene. All patients with the most serious injuries have been taken to hospital, the service said.

The incident caused major disruption to rail services. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the reports were deeply concerning and expressed his thoughts with the victims and their families. An investigation into the cause of the collision is underway. 

Survivor recounts bloody scenes after train crash in eastern England