Women volunteers (in dark blue) offer zongzi and sachets to frontline medical workers in Qingyundian Town Center Hospital in Beijing’s Daxing district on June 25 [Photo from Daxing district]

Over 600 zongzi (rice dumplings wrapped in leaves), were sent to medical workers who fought against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic at the frontline in Beijing’s Daxing district, as the Dragon Boat Festival arrived on June 25.

The sweet snack, a traditional treat to celebrate the festival, conveyed the volunteers’ greetings and wishes as well as their tributes to the medical personnel who stuck to their posts on holidays.

The district’s Qingyundian town organized an online competition for making zongzi so that local women could participate at home to avoid gathering. 

After the game, women representatives sent the handmade snack to the front line by themselves. “I’m grateful to the dedicated medical staff who give nucleic acid tests to the local residents day and night,” said a participant surnamed Wang, “Compared with their efforts, mine isn’t too much. I just did my part to support epidemic prevention.”

Medics in Yufa town (in white) pose for a photo with volunteers to accept thanks during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. [Photo from Daxing district]

The district’s Yufa town also took the initiative to participate in the activity. It cost only a morning to make more than 600 zongzi, which were divided into 20packages by the volunteers and then well-cooked at their homes.

In the end, more than 50 epidemic prevention stations received the gifts.

“I feel warmhearted for the considerate service. The zongzi tastes very sweet and delicious,” said a medical worker Li Yaqin.