"Amid the verdant mugwort and the aroma of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), national unity deepens." The Yangpu Ethnic Unity and Progress Association (YEUPA) recently organized a special event at the Shanghai-Yunnan Cooperation (Yangpu) Lijiang Pavilion. With the theme "Fragrant Zongzi, Heartfelt Bonds, Big Family", the event wove together the traditional customs of the Dragon Boat Festival and the practice of Shanghai-Yunnan collaboration. Through activities like wrapping zongzi and sharing stories, as well as singing and dancing, it showcased how traditional culture can vividly forge a national community among the Chinese people.

In the folk setting, a cultural symphony unfolds. The event venue, adorned with miniature of Lijiang Blue Moon Valley and ancient water wheels, alongside Tea Horse Road paintings, painted a picture of Yunnan and Shanghai's cultural charm. As ethnic communities gathered to wrap zongzi, the sweet scent of glutinous rice mingled with the fresh aroma of mugwort. Each fold of the bamboo leaves encased not just regional fillings like red dates and bean paste but also the essence of a diverse yet harmonious Chinese cultural heritage. A rendition of South of the Colorful Clouds by Zhang Yaohui, a resident of Changhai Road Sub-district, harmonized the ethnic tunes of Shanghai and Yunnan, embodying the cultural ethos of celebrating individual beauty while sharing in collective harmony.

In collaborative practice, unity resonates. Held at the Lijiang Pavilion, a partner of Yangpu, the event transformed a festive gathering into a symbol of regional collaboration. The lucky draws featured a mix of iconic Shanghai pastries and Lijiang's intangible cultural heritage crafts. This "Shanghai-Yunnan blind box" metaphorically reflected the deepening ties between the two regions. Through the exchange of gifts and cultural insights, it fostered a stronger sense of community. The performance of Love My China by Mu Hua from Changbai Xincun Sub-district and host Ma Tianhong, blending ethnic dance with popular music, vividly illustrated the spirit of China's 56 ethnic groups uniting closely like pomegranate seeds.

In the heart of traditional festivals, we see traditions come alive. With the Grain Full solar term upon us, the event used the imagery of "fresh wheat and budding lotus" to reflect the Chinese wisdom of "achieving fullness without excess", suggesting that national unity needs constant care. Whether it is the exchange of diverse Dragon Boat Festival traditions during zongzi wrapping or the integration of traditional Chinese medicine into sachet making, these customs have transformed from mere symbols into a shared cultural narrative authored by people from all walks of life. As Meng Chunqiao, President of YEUPA, put it, "The encounter between Lijiang's brocade and Shanghai's woolen yarn, and the delightful clash of Yunnan's ham zongzi with the local red bean zongzi, create a fusion that transcends taste, touching the soul and forging a deep cultural bond."

The event introduced an innovative three-dimensional model combining folk customs experience, collaborative showcase, and emotional unity, transforming "Our Dragon Boat Festival" into a powerful medium for enhancing the sense of national community among the Chinese people. As participants from Shanghai and Yunnan departed with their handcrafted zongzi and sachets, they carried with them not just festive wishes, but a profound cultural connection reflected in the idea of "A Big Family of the Chinese Nation". This embodiment of cultural identity reflects the enduring spirit of traditional culture in modern times and it is a vivid practice of national unity and progress.