Dragon boat festival tantalizes the taste buds

Due to the pandemic, dragon boat races and large gatherings of people have been prohibited in many areas of China this year.

As volunteers clad in protective clothing fight COVID-19 on the front line, a taste of zongzi during Dragon Boat Festival is a reminder of home for many.

With people's livelihoods improved, and increased health awareness, the past decade has seen a series of changes in folk customs at the festival.

The pandemic has highlighted the special significance of the festival, which signifies people's good wishes for health and safety.

Traditional customs such as warding off mosquitoes by burning wormwood, sprinkling realgar wine (a traditional Chinese drink containing fermented cereals) in the house, and hanging amulets on doors have disappeared.

However, in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, people have enjoyed "the five yellows"－realgar wine, eel, yellow croaker, cucumber and salted egg yolk. Recently, they have abandoned the realgar wine, as it contains arsenic, and is not good for health.