Jack Song, a Hong Kong banker with a western wife, bought some "Zongzi" early Tuesday morning from a restaurant for the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.

"Zongzi", a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, is a kind of special food derived from the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Tuen Ng Chinese Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival has been observed to commemorate Quyuan, a famous ancient official who drown himself for finding no way to make his small hinterland kingdom better.

"My wife and I both don't know how to make 'Zongzi', but we've got the habit to eat 'Zongzi' in Dragon Boat Festival. And I think we should let kids know something about Chinese culture," said Song.

Song Sihui, Jack Song's mother, lives in a small isle not far from Hong Kong island. She has been keeping the convention of making "Zongzi" by herself and asking all family members to come back to eat.

"But Jack was so busy that he even cannot come back today," said Sihui. She said some "Zongzi" were already kept for Jack's family.

"I hope Jack's wife will like to eat this Chinese food and know something about Quanyuan and dragon boat," she added.

Dragon boat racing has been the most popular program in Hong Kong during this special Chinese traditional festival, and lots of western Hong Kong residents love the game and put the modern meaning of carnival in the festival.

Dragon boat racing in Stanley, Hong Kong island, is the most popular one among all the races scattering in the villages and beaches during the festival and has gained a reputation both internationally and locally. Thousands of athletes took part and joined hands in the months of practice, demonstrating not only the blending of the east and the west, but also the important message of team work.

Chairman of Stanley Residents Association Alson Wong said there is a very good line-up of amazingly 151 entries this year, which indicates the unrivaled attraction of the Stanley Regatta.

"Thanks to the recent economic recovery, the dragon-boating here is boosted, and is getting more popular," said Wong.

Stanley, known by tourists across the world for its tightly packed streets filled with exciting shopping opportunities, is also known for its choice of restaurants and pubs, beautiful location and fresh air but, in recent years, it has also become famous for its annual Dragon Boat Races.

Attracting more than 140 teams each competition over the last few years, the races are the highlight of the racing scene in Hong Kong, and are now recognized worldwide for the multinational makeup of the teams and the intensity and excitement of the competition.

Only 20 years ago, Stanley was simply a small fishing village on the south side of Hong Kong island. As most of the local Chinese relied on the sea for their livelihood it was only natural that dragon boat racing became a very popular way to celebrate the Tuen Ng Festival.

As a sight spot famous for its character of mixed east and west civilization, Stanley is especially a place to feel Hong Kong and its unique culture.

Among the boat teams, the blue eyes wear the traditional Chinese costume, the yellow faces speak the fluent English. They wave the same kind of oars in different boats and rush to the same goal.

Thirty-year-old Brand is an England-origin Hong Kong resident, he has taken part in the Stanley Regatta for six years and never got a good place. His team lost again this time.

"Never mind, we are here just for fun," said Brand, "just like eating 'Zongzi'."

Like brand, most Hong Kong people eat "Zongzi" in every Dragon Boat Festival, but not all the people know the origin meaning of the festival. But when they make whoopee in the boat racing and enjoy the carnival, it's difficult to find the limit between cultures.
 
(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2004)