Chinese food and culture fair launched at UG to mark dragon boat festival

Jun 17, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – The University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen Campus was transformed into a vibrant hub of cultural exchange on Monday, June 15, as nearly 200 students, faculty, and diplomats gathered for the Dragon Boat Festival Food and Culture Event. The fair, jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Guyana and the university, offered patrons a direct experience of Chinese heritage through traditional culinary arts and hands-on cultural exhibitions.

The event was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin, faculty representatives, and members of the Guyana-China Alumni Association.

Ambassador Yang introduced the significance of the Dragon Boat Festival, noting that food carries the Chinese people’s longing for family, reunion, and a better life, and has become an important part of Chinese culture. She expressed hope that participants could, through tasting Chinese food and taking part in cultural experiences, get a taste of a more vivid, friendly, and real China.

During her keynote address, Ambassador Yang detailed how traditional dishes serve as vessels for cultural values across generations. The fair featured an extensive spread of regional Chinese cuisine, allowing attendees to sample the distinct culinary traditions of both southern and northern China.

“The zongzi prepared for today is the most representative food of the Dragon Boat Festival,” Ambassador Yang explained. “Har gow, wonton, walnut buns and other dim sum reflect the delicate and refined style of Cantonese cuisine from southern China. Baozi, soy milk, and big bowl tea, on the other hand, carry the familiar taste of everyday life in northern China. These foods may taste different and come from different regions, but together they show just how diverse, open, and full of life Chinese cuisine truly is.”

The ambassador drew a parallel between China’s regional flavors and the multicultural culinary landscape of Guyana, noting that both nations express their diverse histories at the dining table. “I believe our Guyanese friends can especially appreciate the beauty of such ‘diverse flavors,’” Yang observed. “Guyana also has a wonderfully rich food culture. Different communities, histories, and traditions meet at the dining table and together create the unique flavors of Guyana. Pepperpot, for example, carries strong Indigenous traditions. Curry and roti represent authentic Indian flavors. Black cake, often enjoyed during festive occasions, highlights the local Caribbean character shaped by rum, sugar, and spices. And of course, the chow mein and fried rice that everyone knows so well are vivid examples of how Chinese culture and local Guyanese food traditions have blended together.”

Beyond the food tastings, the fair featured interactive cultural booths where UG students and guests participated in traditional crafts, including paper cutting, crafting scented sachets, and the intricate process of wrapping zongzi.

Many participating students reported being deeply impressed by the richness and diversity of the culinary offerings, expressing a keen interest in future travel and study opportunities to learn more about China’s ongoing development and heritage.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin affirmed the significance of the gathering, stating that the traditional friendship between Guyana and China has a long history. She noted that the occasion was not only a celebration of the bilateral relationship but also an invaluable opportunity for students and citizens to deepen their understanding of China’s development and cultural heritage.

The food and culture fair immediately followed a formal book donation ceremony at the UG Library earlier that afternoon. Ambassador Yang emphasised that the dual initiatives were designed to engage different senses to achieve a singular diplomatic goal: fostering deeper mutual understanding among young people.

“Just now, we donated a collection of Chinese books to UG’s Library, hoping to help more students learn about China through reading. And now, we are bringing zongzi, dumplings, dim sum, and many other Chinese foods to you, hoping that you can also experience China through taste,” Ambassador Yang stated.

Reaffirming the embassy’s commitment to local youth development, the Ambassador concluded by pledging continued institutional support for the university.

“Young people are the future of our countries, and they are also the future of China-Guyana friendship,” Yang said. “The Chinese Embassy stands ready to continue strengthening cooperation with the University of Guyana and to support more exchanges in education, culture, and youth engagement. We welcome more UG students to learn more about China. We are also willing to provide more opportunities for you to study, visit, and take part in exchanges in China, so that you can see the real China for yourselves and share Guyana’s stories with Chinese friends.”

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• Chinese food and culture fair, dragon boat festival, Turkeyen Campus, University of Guyana

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