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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, Du?nw? 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.
They also made herbal sachets (香包, xi?ng b?o) 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.
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.
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.
Source: Office of Global Engagement
