German tourists taste Bowen zongzi in Lishui's Qingtian county, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

A group of German travelers joined overseas Chinese Zhou Yinnong at Fushan township in Lishui's Qingtian county, Zhejiang province, to experience the local Dragon Boat Festival custom of making Bowen zongzi, a century-old traditional rice dumpling.

Guided by local villagers, the visitors learned how to fold bamboo leaves, fill them with rice and specialty stuffing, and tie them up. Once steamed, the fragrant zongzi received high praise from everyone.

Evelyn and Meik Spitzenberg, a German couple who experienced zongzi-making for the first time, said they found the hands-on activity truly engaging and came away with a deeper appreciation for traditional Chinese culture.

The German group had arrived in Qingtian on June 16 after a road trip of more than 70 days, crossing 14 countries and covering nearly 10,000 kilometers. The journey was organized by Zhou, who grew up in Fushan township.

Zhou said that the taste of hometown zongzi was always a craving during his years abroad, and the familiar flavor instantly relieved his travel fatigue.

Bowen zongzi, dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and once presented to Ming emperor Zhu Yuanzhang by Liu Bowen, is made from local rice and dyed with gardenia water through 36 steps. It carries deep nostalgic value for overseas Qingtian natives.

For fellow overseas Chinese Zhuo Jianxiong, the journey fulfilled a decades-old dream of driving back home from Germany.

Another German tourist, Jens Fritzsche, who had visited Qingtian 26 years ago, marveled at the city's dramatic transformation, noting the European-style buildings along the Oujiang River and dazzling night views.