Folk Customs as a Platform to Gather Talent in Dongfang: Unlocking the Code for Rural Revitalization — Dongfang City's International Talent Dragon Boat Festival Thematic Cultural Experience Activity Successfully Concluded

Pomegranate flowers burn like fire, and the fragrance of bamboo leaves for zongzi drifts in the air. On the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival, more than ten international talents in Qiong gathered in Dongfang. Together, they ventured into rural areas to explore the characteristic zongzi industry, trace the cultural roots of Dragon Boat customs, and personally experience traditional zongzi-making skills. Through on-site observation, reading and reflection, and hands-on practice, they felt the warmth of traditional culture, witnessed the new面貌 of rural revitalization, and appreciated the charm of Dongfang city.

International talents visited the Zongzi processing workshop and industrial exhibition area of Luobai Village, observing the entire process of Luobai Zongzi production, from raw material selection and hand-packing to slow cooking over firewood, standardized processing, and brand operation. Relying on its time-honored Zongzi-making skills passed down for over a millennium, Luobai Village uses local premium ingredients such as Luzhou leaves, local glutinous rice, farm-raised black pork, and sea duck egg yolks. It has evolved from small-scale scattered production to cooperative intensive management. It has been awarded as one of the 11th batch of National 'One Village, One Product' Demonstration Townships and Villages, and has developed Luobai Zongzi into a characteristic rural industry that drives villagers' income growth and empowers rural development, turning small Zongzi into a prosperity-inducing industry. Participants carefully learned about the development history of the industry, brand building, production and sales models, and paths for rural industrial upgrading. They witnessed firsthand how local specialty foods can be transformed into new driving forces for rural revitalization and truly felt the vibrant practice of characteristic industries empowering rural development, as well as the thriving and habitable reality of Eastern rural revitalization.

During the folk culture explanation session, staff members elaborately narrated the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival, the evolution of its customs, and the historical roots of the Luotai zongzi (a type of dumpling). The Dragon Boat Festival carries profound connotations of honoring ancestors, praying for health and peace, and expressing patriotic sentiments. Over a millennium of inheritance, it has evolved into diverse customs such as eating zongzi and making wishes. The Luotai zongzi, with a history of nearly two thousand years, has taken root in the East alongside regional migrations, blending Central Plains customs with Hainan's local characteristics to form a unique regional culinary cultural imprint. The event also traced the evolution of Dragon Boat Festival customs, explaining distinctive practices such as islanders bathing in 'dragon water' during the festival, neighbors wrapping zongzi together, and family reunions on festive occasions, as well as the cultural significance of zongzi symbolizing reunion, goodness, and patriotic feelings. International talents listened attentively, engaged in interactive exchanges, and gained a deep understanding of the spiritual essence of traditional Chinese festivals and regional folk differences, savoring the long-standing and warm, substantial cultural heritage of the Dragon Boat Festival.

With the faint aroma of luo dou leaves in the air, a hands-on experience of making zongzi by hand was initiated on-site. Village artisans and inheritors of traditional skills demonstrated and taught step by step, explaining the entire process from folding luo dou leaves, filling with glutinous rice and black beans, arranging meat and egg fillings, wrapping the leaves, to tying them securely. International talents took turns to practice, repeatedly adjusting the angle of the leaves, controlling the amount of filling, and practicing the strength of tying. In the process of folding, rolling, tying, and binding, they gradually mastered the essentials of making zongzi. What seems to be a simple zongzi requires careful attention to every step, embodying the meticulous craftsmanship and steadfast patience passed down through generations. Everyone immersed themselves in experiencing the difficulty of making traditional food, appreciating the artisans' dedication to perfection and intergenerational perseverance. Through hands-on labor, they bridged cultural gaps and enhanced emotional exchanges between China and foreign countries, using zongzi as a medium.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, a single silk ribbon zongzi connects industry, culture, and craftsmanship. This event allows international talents to get up close to the new development of rural areas in Hainan Free Trade Port, understand Chinese traditional folk customs, and feel the charm of traditional skills through hands-on experience. It further promotes the external communication of local cultural characteristics in Dongfang and helps deepen and solidify international cultural exchanges in the Free Trade Port.

榴花似火，粽叶飘香。端午佳节来临之际，十余名在琼国际人才齐聚东方，一同走进乡村一线，探访粽子特色产业、溯源端午民俗文脉、亲手体验传统包粽技艺，在行走观察、品读感悟、动手实践中触摸传统文化温度、见证乡村振兴崭新面貌、领略东方城市魅力。 

探访乡村产业，感知振兴之美

国际人才先后走进罗带村粽子加工车间、产业展示区，实地观摩罗带粽从原料甄选、手工包制、柴火慢煮到标准化加工、品牌运营全流程。罗带村依托传承千年的粽子手艺，采用芦兜叶、本地糯米、农家黑猪肉、海鸭蛋黄等本土优质食材，从小作坊零散制作逐步发展为合作社集约化经营，获评第十一批全国“一村一品”示范村镇、打造罗带粽特色乡土产业，让小小粽子成为带动村民增收致富、赋能乡村发展的富民产业。大家认真了解产业发展历程、品牌建设、产销模式与乡村产业转型升级路径，亲眼看见本土特色美食如何转化为乡村振兴新动能，真切感受东方乡村产业兴旺、宜居向好的振兴实景，读懂特色产业赋能乡村发展的生动实践。

溯源节日底蕴，领略文化之美

在民俗讲解环节，工作人员围绕端午起源、民俗演变、罗带粽子历史渊源娓娓讲述。端午节承载着缅怀先贤、祈福安康、家国寄情的深厚内涵，历经千年传承演化出食粽、祈福等多样习俗；罗带粽传承已有近两千年历史，伴随地域迁徙扎根东方，融合中原习俗与海南本土特色，形成独有的地域饮食文化印记。活动现场还梳理了端午民俗演变脉络，讲解海岛端午洗龙水、邻里裹粽、佳节团聚等特色习俗，解读粽子承载的团圆向善、家国情怀文化寓意。国际人才静心聆听、互动交流，深入了解中华传统节日的精神内核与地域民俗差异，细细品读源远流长、温润厚重的端午传统文化底蕴。

体验包粽技艺，体悟匠心之美

伴着淡淡芦兜叶清香，现场开启手工包粽子实践体验。村里手艺传承人现场示范教学，分步讲解折芦兜粽叶、装填糯米黑豆、摆放肉蛋馅料、折叠裹叶、捆扎缠线全套流程。国际人才依次上手实操，反复调整粽叶角度、把控馅料分量、练习捆扎力道，在一折一卷、一系一绑间慢慢摸索包粽要领。看似简单的粽子，每一步都讲究分寸力道，包裹着代代相传的细致手艺与坚守耐心。大家沉浸式感受传统美食制作的不易，体悟精益求精、代代坚守的匠人匠心，在亲手劳作中拉近文化距离，以粽为媒增进中外情感交融。

一场端午佳节，一枚罗带粽子，联结产业、文化与匠心。此次活动让国际人才近距离看见海南自贸港乡村发展新气象，了解中华传统民俗文化，在实操体验中感悟传统技艺魅力，进一步推动东方本土特色文化对外传播，助力自贸港国际人文交流持续走深走实。