Participants play the Hang during a celebratory activity for Dragon Boat Festival in Huacao town on June 22. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]
Fifteen families from countries and regions including the United States, Germany, and China took part in a celebration for Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, in Huacao town in the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District on June 22.
During the activity, participants tried playing a new musical instrument called Hang that was created in Switzerland in 2000. They also picked fruits, learned to make mugwort bouquets and zongzi, glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves.
"This is my first time celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival in such a unique way. I had a very good time," said Wickert from Germany, who took part in the activity with his wife, daughter and son.
A father helps his son make a mugwort bouquet during a celebratory activity for Dragon Boat Festival in Huacao town on June 22. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]
"The plants used to make the bouquet smell good. It means blessing and can help repel mosquitoes," said another young participant Yu Jingxuan.
This was the third celebration of a traditional Chinese festival that Huacao town has organized for its foreign residents this year, following those for Lantern Festival and Qingming Festival.
A local official said that more of such activities will be held to promote cultural exchange between local and foreign families and help expats adapt to the living and working environment in Huacao town.
Huacao town is currently home to more than 9,600 foreign residents from 78 countries and regions. It has four international schools, four bilingual kindergartens, and 13 international residential areas.
