Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival is about more than just having fun; it also offers a chance to deepen your understanding of Chinese culture and traditions by immersing yourself in this vibrant holiday. This unique experience brings international and domestic participants together to share in cultural exploration and celebration, fostering community spirit through festive joy. Through dynamic, hands-onactivities such as craft, creativity is encouraged alongside artistic expression. Most importantly, celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival fosters cross-cultural understanding and respect by engaging with this cherished tradition, creating lasting memories and meaningful connections for everyone .
Last Thursday, we held our Dragon Boat Festival celebration here at ICPBR, as part of our "Building Our Community" series. It was a great afternoon – people from different labs came together, tried some traditional activities, and shared food. Simple, but it brought people together, and that was the whole point.
Hands-On Crafts
We set up a number of craft stations offering a mix of activities: folding paper origami boats, making paper zongzi (a playful craft version of the traditional treat), and creating mugwort bundles to hang by the door. The mugwort, in particular, is traditionally used to repel mosquitoes – which is actually quite practical given the hot, humid weather we've been having. Most of our international staff had never tried any of these crafts before, so there was some trial and error, but people quickly got into it. By the end, almost everyone had made something to take home or place on their desk. The room smelled strongly of mugwort for the rest of the day – while many enjoyed the scent, a few found it a bit overpowering (though I personally don't mind it).
Zongzi from a Local Shop
For the food, we decided to leave the zongzi-making to the experts this year! We ordered from a well-known, award-winning shop in Shanghai – and it was definitely the right call. The quality was excellent, and it saved us a lot of time. We offered both savoury (pork and salted egg yolk) and sweet (red bean paste) versions, which sparked some fun debates about which one is better. The savoury ones were the crowd favourite, but the sweet ones had their loyal fans too!
Cross-Lab Communication
A core highlight of the event was the spontaneous cross-group conversations that broke down the usual barriers between separate laboratory teams. People didn't just stick to their own labs – they actually talked across groups. Some of our Chinese colleagues shared the stories behind the festival – why it's connected to Qu Yuan, why people eat zongzi, and so on – while international colleagues asked questions and showed genuine curiosity. None of it felt forced; the conversations just flowed naturally.
A Few Photos - Event Photography
We took some photos during the afternoon – they give a better sense of the atmosphere than it can be described here. Have a look below.
Attendees following the introductory presentation on screen
The Herbal Boat
Paper Boat and Zongzi
People working on their herbal boats
Zongzi from a Local Shop
Moments like these remind us why the 'Building Our Community' series matters. It's not just about the activities – it's about creating space for people to connect, learn from one another, and feel part of something bigger. We're grateful to everyone who contributed to the day, and we're already excited about bringing everyone together again for the next event. See you then!