Source: Office of Global Engagement
Published on 2025-06-03
The Office of Global Engagement hosted a Dragon Boat Festival celebration on May 28, at an off-campus culinary workshop space, where TMU international students engaged in a hands-on exploration of this cherished Taiwanese tradition.
The Dragon Boat Festival (端午節, Duānwǔ Jié), celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, honours the patriotic poet Qu Yuan (屈原). After being exiled, he ended his life in the Miluo River. Villagers raced to save him and tossed rice into the water to protect his body—acts that evolved into today’s dragon boat races and the tradition of eating zòngzi (粽子), sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.
From legends to leaf-folding—Laoshi Chelsea brings the Dragon Boat Festival to life with stories and a hands-on zongzi-making sessionGuided by chefs, students prepared both savoury and sweet zòngzi with fillings like pork belly, mushrooms, and red bean paste. The kitchen buzzed with collaboration as participants practiced wrapping techniques and learned to identify the correct side of bamboo leaves.
Zongzi ingredients: the first features savory pork, while the second is a vegetarian option made to accommodate Muslim and vegetarian students.
They also made herbal sachets (香包, xiāng bāo) filled with mugwort and dried flowers—traditional items believed to ward off illness during the summer. In addition to the cultural immersion, the activity introduced Mandarin vocabulary related to food, ingredients, and seasonal customs, allowing students to naturally reinforce their language skills through practical learning.
A festive finish: zongzi to taste and Xiang-Bao to treasure!
Several participants were also members of the TMU Global Ambassadors (TMUGA) program, who supported their peers by facilitating cultural exchange and assisting across languages and cultures throughout the event.
Lots of laughs and sticky fingers: Everyone bonding (and struggling a little) while wrapping zongzi together!
The experience left students with more than handmade zòngzi and herbal sachets—it offered meaningful connections across cultures and a deeper appreciation for local traditions.
Zongzi success! TMU students wrapping up good times (and rice) with Laoshi Chelsea!
An Indian PhD student shared:
I learned how to braise pork for the first time and how to assemble and wrap zòngzi. It was both fun and humbling. The process takes patience and care, especially making sure the leaves are tightly wrapped and the strings properly secured. I gained a deeper appreciation for the meaning behind the food.
A Myanmar PhD student expressed his appreciation:
Joining the Dragon Boat Festival event was such a fun and meaningful experience. It was my first time making zòngzi, and learning the story of Qu Yuan while wrapping the rice dumplings made me feel more connected to the tradition. I also enjoyed making the herbal sachet, it was simple but special, and the fragrance reminded me of traditional remedies back home. The teacher explained everything with such passion, and I appreciated how the event combined culture, hands-on learning, and community. I left with new skills, new memories, and a deeper appreciation for Taiwanese traditions.
Another Indian PhD student said:
The zòngzi-making workshop was a new and exciting experience for me. I appreciated the organizers’ thoughtful accommodation of my dietary needs as a Muslim by providing vegetarian options. Making zòngzi while learning its cultural significance was fun and meaningful. I especially enjoyed working in a team, which made it easy to connect with others. Sewing xiāng bāo (herbal sachets) added a creative and engaging element to the event.
TMU remains committed to promoting cultural understanding and global connection. Through events like this, students expand their cultural horizons and build friendships that continue beyond the classroom.
Written by : Vijetha Karen Kitchley, Kaung Khant Ye Mon, Uzma Nayeem (TMUGA)
