More than 60 travelers from Indonesia participated in a zongzi-making folk custom experience activity after visiting Huanglong Cave Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie, on the occasion of Chinese Duanwu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival. With the assistance of working staff of the scenic area, they sorted reed leaves, processed different fillings, and tried their hand at making zongzi. Through this immersive experience, they've explored the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.

Wrapping glutinous rice with two or three reed leaves and tying it into a pyramid shape with a string—a zongzi takes shape. "It is not easy, but so fun," the Indonesian travelers felt challenged while trying again and again to make a "successful work". 

Karst caves are rare to see in Indonesia, and making zongzi is new to her, said Velyn. Under the guidance of the working staff, she got the knack of making zongzi, and made three good-looking zongzi quickly. 

"We've found that most foreign tourists are not content to be mere onlookers. Beyond natural scenery, they are also deeply interested in China's traditional culture. We aim to provide a new platform for international cultural tourism exchange through hosting a series of immersive experience activities where both Chinese and foreign tourists can participate together," said Xie Min, general manager of the Huanglong Cave Scenic Area.

Over the past two years, with the successive implementation of the 144-hour and 240-hour visa free transit policies, Zhangjiajie's inbound tourism market has seen sustained growth. Renowned for its stunning karst landscapes, picturesque idyllic scenery, and rich folk culture, the Huanglong Cave Scenic Area has become a must-visit destination for international travelers exploring Zhangjiajie. Statistics show that, as of this May, the Huanglong Cave Scenic Area has welcomed over 90,000 inbound visitors.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunantoday