International bloggers make sachets. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

Seven international bloggers from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Russia, and other countries visited Jiaxing's ancient towns to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival on June 1 and 2. They immersed themselves in traditional customs and the unique beauty of the area.

In Tongxiang, the bloggers participated in dragon boat races in Chongfu Ancient Town, and experienced Puyuan Ancient Town's fashionable charm. At Xitang Ancient Town in Jiashan county, they admired the night scenery and learned about its night economy.

Kieran, a South African cultural blogger, praised the exquisite architecture of Jiaxing's ancient towns, noting how authentically they preserve their ancient style.

Kieran, whose Chinese name is Fan Ruijie, first came to China 10 years ago for his studies, and has been living in the country for the last eight years. Fluent in Mandarin, he started his account "South African Fan Debiao" last September and has posted over 50 videos about Jiaxing since March. He shared, "This is my first time exploring other parts of Jiaxing. I've visited Haining several times and really enjoy Jiaxing."

On June 2, the 2024 Duanwu Folk Culture Festival began at Zicheng Square. There, the foreign guests took part in traditional activities like touhu (also known as pitch-pot) and a zongzi wrapping contest at Yuehe Scenic Area, documenting their experiences and capturing the essence of Jiaxing's Dragon Boat Festival customs.

"Here, I can clearly feel people enjoying and embracing life. The blend of traditional and urban culture is very pleasant," said Sasha from Russia, a lifestyle blogger with over 15 million views on her social media.