Fiery competition is expected across China Saturday as dragon boat
races are held to mark the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
But while the intricately designed long boats have rightly gained
fame worldwide, it is another feature of the
Dragon Boat Festival which has been proving extra hot in China
in recent years.
Zongzi,
the pyramid-shaped steamed glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed
leaves with a history dating back thousands of years, has retained
a special place in the hearts of Chinese seeking to join in the
celebrations.
A
long queue of customers formed Friday in many shops, seeking to buy
the renowned Daoxiangcun brand zongzi.
Many administrative staff at the headquarters of Daoxiangcun -- one
of the oldest food manufacturers in Beijing -- also took to the
streets to help sell the product.
One employee told China Daily that recent market research
had shown business to be booming.
Quality control authorities of Beijing Municipality have also
conducted a city-wide quality spot-check recently to ensure that
all products on the market are safe.
Some illegal dealers were caught making zongzi with
unqualified materials or in filthy conditions.
The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Quality Supervision and Inspection
and Quarantine urged local people to buy zongzi from
trustworthy dealers on health grounds.
The spot-checks have also boosted business at the Gongyifu Food
Factory, another prestigious food producer in Beijing which has
also had their zongzi recognized by the authority.
Now, having run out of materials, they have been forced to turn
down lucrative orders.
Although the Dragon Boat Festival remains the factory's most
important season for selling zongzi, it has lost market
share to new competitors in recent years.
"We survived only because more and more Beijing people care about
these special occasions and like to buy our products," said Ren
Yanhua, vice-director of the Gongyifu Food Factory.
"This is contrary to some people's belief that zongzi would
lose its appeal now that it is on sale throughout the year."
Ren said the most popular variety of zongzi is still the
traditional one made with a stuffing of dates or sweetened bean
paste.
"Traditional zongzi for a traditional occasion, and Beijing
people are especially attached to tradition," said Ren.
In
Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, large numbers of
visitors from Hong Kong and Macao were expected Friday for the
Dragon Boat Festival.
Some 1.68 million are estimated to visit the mainland for the
festival from Thursday to Monday -- 11.6 percent up on the same
period last year.
Although people were advised to avoid the peak period Saturday, an
official at the Luohu overland checkpoints -- where 80 percent of
those going into Shenzhen via land should pass -- told China
Daily Friday that no obvious increase had occurred in people
seeking entrance to the mainland.
"It seems the real peak will come Saturday," the official said.
(China
Daily June 15, 2002)