International students from the United States, Russia, Mongolia, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, and Nigeria, together with 38 teachers and students from a local primary school, make zongzi to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival and experience Chinese traditions at the Saihan Campus of Inner Mongolia Normal University in Hohhot, capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on June 5. [Photo/imnu.edu.cn]

International students from the United States, Russia, Mongolia, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, and Nigeria, together with 38 teachers and students from a local primary school, made zongzi to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival at the Saihan Campus of Inner Mongolia Normal University in Hohhot, capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on June 5.

Zongzi -- pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed leaves -- is the most important traditional food of the Dragon Boat Festival. In general, northern Chinese prefer sweet zongzi filled with red-bean paste or Chinese dates, while southerners prefer savory zongzi filled with egg yolk, pork, or mushrooms.

IMNU's Chinese students taught international and local students about the history of the Dragon Boat Festival and related customs.

Afterwards, cafeteria workers led a zongi-making activity in a student cafeteria on IMNU's Saihan Campus.

This activity helped IMNU international students better understand the Dragon Boat Festival and traditional Chinese culture.