端午节是首个入选世界非遗的中国节日。农历五月初五是中国的传统节日——端午节。吃粽子是流传至今的端午习俗之一。

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is a significant traditional Chinese celebration that falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. It is also the first Chinese festival to be included in the UNESCO world intangible cultural heritage list. One of the festival’s enduring customs is eating zongzi — sweet or savory stuffed rice dumplings wrapped in plant leaves.

我国粽子文化历史悠久、源远流长，百年来围绕着粽子所讲述的故事，家喻户晓。战国时期楚国的爱国诗人屈原在楚国被攻破之后，愤而投入汨罗江自杀，楚国百姓悲痛异常，纷纷去江边凭吊他，为了保护他的遗体不被鱼虾啃咬，人们将饭团投入江中，由此也演变成了如今的粽子。

China’s zongzi culture has a very long and time-honored history, and stories that have been told about it for thousands of years are known to every household. During the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), a patriotic poet from the State of Chu named Qu Yuan threw himself into a river after the state was conquered. The people of Chu were deeply saddened, and they went to the river to mourn him. In order to protect his body from being eaten by fish and shrimp, people threw rice dumplings into the river every year on the anniversary of his death. The dumplings became known as zongzi.

在江浙一带，还有一种说法，人们用粽子这种食物和龙舟竞渡来纪念伍子胥。伍子胥生活在春秋时期，他帮助吴国国力达到鼎盛，但被吴王所害，当地老百姓崇敬他的英勇和忠诚。

In Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, there is another belief that people eat zongzi and watch dragon races to honor legendary military general Wu Zixu. Wu served during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), and he helped the State of Wu flourish before King Fuchai ordered his death. Local people revered his bravery and loyalty, and he has been honored in later generations.

因地域不同，制粽子的材料也有所不同，以至于形状、口感产生差异。北方的粽子多是单一用糯米，或者加入赤豆、紅枣，蘸白糖食用。而南方粽子尤其以嘉兴为代表的粽子口味更多，馅料丰富。嘉兴发展成为中国历史上最主要的稻作区，被誉为“天下粮仓”。丰富优质的农副产品原料，为发展各类花色粽创造了十分有利的条件。

The ingredients used to make zongzi vary from region to region, so there are many differences in shape and taste. Most are made with plain white glutinous rice. The northern varieties are usually sweet, with ingredients such as sugar, red bean paste and jujubes. On the other hand, southern zongzi are more savory — especially those from Jiaxing in Zhejiang. Jiaxing zongzi are a renowned specialty in China’s Jiangnan (south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) and have a rich history. The city, historically known as the “granary of the nation”, has been a significant rice-growing area in Chinese history. The area’s abundant agricultural products have contributed to the development of various flavors of its zongzi.

嘉兴粽子的馅料采用酱油、猪肉、咸鸭蛋黄等上等食材，辅以传统烹制方法，是老少皆宜的美味佳肴。

Jiaxing’s savory zongzi are filled with soy sauce, pork, water chestnuts and salted duck egg yolk. The combination of highquality ingredients and traditional cooking methods results in a delectable treat that is enjoyed by people of all ages.

嘉兴粽子因其滋味鲜美，携带、食用方便而备受广大旅游者厚爱，有“东方快餐”之称。2023年嘉兴全市粽子产业产值50亿元左右，约占全国这一行业的50%。

Loved by locals and tourists alike, Jiaxing zongzi have become a symbol of the area’s culinary excellence and are often referred to as the “Eastern fast food” due to their portability. According to local market authorities, the production output of the city’s zongzi industry amounted to 5 billion yuan ($690.13 million) last year, making up about 50 percent of all zongzi produced in China.