Jinwan to celebrate Duanwu Jie with carnival

The aroma of zongzi rice dumplings in the kitchen and girds of fresh medicinal leaves on the windows of Jinwan are sensual signs that the Dragon Boat Festival is upon us. This year's June 9-11 holiday offers a myriad of activities during the Jinwan District Carnival on Golden Beach.

Duanwu Jie, known as Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival and Taoist holiday that falls on fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Festivity revelers can partake in all the pleasures of the festival, from making dumplings, savoring delicacies, putting up tents, and appreciating music at Golden Beach.

Leisure time is enjoyed at Golden Beach [File Photo/zhtb.cn]

Six featured carnival activities are on tap to fuse the enchanting natural landscape of Golden Beach with traditional customs of the Dragon Boat Festival and the local brands of Jinwan District:

Each family can participate as a unit in the Rice Dumpling Contest. Each team must make 10 equal-sized zongzi without revealing their fillings, but using 750g of glutinous rice flour, 10 pieces of meat, reed or bamboo leaves or other greens, and strings. Only those who make 10 beautiful rice dumplings within the allotted time will win. Nevertheless, all contestants will get five rice dumplings as a reward for participating, and visitors can sample 500 delicious treats.

A private home cuisine competition titled Seek the Flavor of Jinwan, a heated gourmet brand activity of the town, will be held on the morning of June 9 with 20 private dishes and their detailed cooking methods to be unveiled. Participants can enjoy the feast and vote for their favorites.

In addition, a live music show called "Dancing to the Music on the Summer Beach" will be on offer. A famous regional band named Yishi, a college students' orchestra from Jinwan, and some regional amateur singers will show their talent.

The tent on the beach will give people an opportunity to spend time together and then sleep in the tranquil night after all the day's excitement. There will be up to 500 tents to be reserved for each night.

Golden Beach will also be the site of a beauty contest featuring 20 young women on June 9. The annual square dance competition titled Dancing Jinwan, with line, Yangko, and fan dances, will lead up to the crowning of the festival's dance queen on June 10.