Recently, the China Harbor Infrastructure Works for Riyadh Sedra 2 Project organised a Dragon Boat Festival cultural activity themed “Crafting Fragrant Sachets, Sharing Friendship Across Cultures.” Employees from China, Egypt, Pakistan and other countries gathered at the project camp to learn about traditional Chinese festival culture and experience sachet-making, fostering communication and strengthening friendships in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.
During the event, Chinese employees introduced their international colleagues to the history, traditional customs and cultural significance of the Dragon Boat Festival. They also presented the herbs and other natural materials used in sachet-making, including mugwort, lavender and osmanthus. As a distinctive element of traditional Chinese festival culture, fragrant sachets carry people's wishes for health, safety and a better life. Through engaging explanations and hands-on demonstrations, employees from different cultural backgrounds gained a deeper understanding of the festival's cultural significance and developed a keen interest in traditional Chinese handicrafts.
During the sachet-making session, employees worked together to select aromatic ingredients, fill the fabric pouches and sew them into shape. While learning the techniques, they also shared traditional customs and everyday experiences from their respective countries. Nora, an Egyptian employee, remarked, “This activity gave me the opportunity to experience traditional Chinese culture up close. It also helped me discover many interesting similarities between different countries' traditional herbal practices and folk customs.”
As the beautifully crafted sachets, filled with refreshing fragrances, gradually took shape, the atmosphere became increasingly lively. Participants proudly displayed their creations, exchanged tips and experiences, and shared moments from the activity with family members back home via their mobile phones. Muhammad, a Pakistani employee, said he hoped to bring his handmade sachet home so that his family could also experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese festivals.
By bringing people together through a traditional Chinese festival, the activity created a platform for employees of different nationalities to interact and connect. It also reflected the project's open, inclusive and mutually respectful working environment. As a Chinese enterprise undertaking infrastructure development in Saudi Arabia, the China Harbor Infrastructure Works for Riyadh Sedra 2 Project actively promotes the integration of traditional Chinese culture into the local working and living environment. Through a variety of cultural exchange activities, the project continues to foster mutual understanding among Chinese and international employees and strengthen team cohesion.
