Signature

Students practice singing of Qiong Opera at a primary school in Dingan County, south China's Hainan Province, April 24, 2024. Various kinds of activities are held for students in the county to inherit and develop the Qiong Opera, a signature of traditional cultures in this southern Chinese island. (Qiong is an abbreviation for Hainan in Chinese.) ( tasteallchina /Zhang Liyun) An actress from Dingan County Qiong Opera Troupe leads students in Qiong Opera exercise at a primary school in Dingan County, south China's Hainan Province, April 24, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Liyun) Actors from Dingan County Qiong Opera Troupe instruct students during Qiong Opera practice at a primary school in Dingan County, south China's Hainan Province, April 24, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Liyun) An actress from Dingan County Qiong Opera Troupe instructs a student during Qiong Opera practice at a primary school in Dingan County, south China's Hainan Province, April 24, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Liyun) Actors from Dingan County Qiong Opera Troupe instruct students during Qiong Opera practice at a primary school in Dingan County, south China's Hainan Province, April 24, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Liyun)

Zongzi is a signature food of the Dragon Boat Festival and is much loved by people. Xu Shen's Sayings on the Interpretation of Chinese Characters from the Han Dynasty states: “Zong (zongzi) is glutinous rice wrapped in reed leaves.” This indicates that at the time, reed leaves were primarily used for wrapping zongzi. In fact, with different customs and local products across regions, different leaves may have been used to wrap zongzi in various places south and north of the Yangtze River, such as the leaves of the Nandina, banana, lou, and lotus plants, which can be aptly described as “sticky rice remains, while the zongye varies.” What many do not know is that the zongye discarded after eating zongzi also has medicinal and health benefits. Reed Leaves Reed leaves are one of the oldest types of zongye, mainly distributed in areas such as North China, Northeast China, and the Two Lakes Region. Reed leaves are commonly used to wrap zongzi in northern regions and along the Yangtze River. After being boiled in water, reed-leaf-wrapped zongzi emit a unique fragrance, which can refresh one’s mood during the sultry weather of the Dragon Boat Festival. The "reed" mentioned in "The reeds…

The 3,200-kilometer Grand Canal dates back nearly 2,500 years. It passes through eight provinces and municipalities. In 2014, 27 sections of the canal, totaling 1,011 km, and 58 relevant heritage sites gained UNESCO World Heritage status. Fact 1: Supervising shipments An "encryption system" was developed during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to prevent corruption and ensure the quality of grain sent to Beijing from the south. Each "signature" on a folding fan represented an agency in charge of inspecting the cargo arriving in the capital. Signatures were also placed on the bags of grain, like seals. Supervisory officials could look at the fans to know which agency should be punished if any problems were discovered. Fact 2: Managing movement There were complicated systems and rigid regulations of shipments' time and distance. A cargo fleet usually contained 30 ships, and each fleet had its own flag. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the central government owned over 16,000 ships for transportation along the canal. Fact 3: Cultural connotations More than 400 items found along the Grand Canal have been inscribed on the list of national-level intangible cultural heritage, including folk arts, handicrafts and local beliefs. Tianjin's Yangliuqing Lunar New Year woodcut paintings are…