TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Pingtung County’s Jiadong Township lined up more than 1,000 watermelons Friday for a Dragon Boat Festival blessing event that also featured its first design contest.
CNA reported that the event took place outside Guanghui Temple in Shiguangjian, where nearby streets were closed to traffic. Thousands of people joined the event as participants placed watermelons upright at noon in a local custom meant to bring good luck.
Organizers set aside a special area for 65 decorated watermelons in the first design contest. Entries included painted faces, cartoon-style designs, and other creative displays.
Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) said Jiadong produces about 60% of Taiwan’s watermelon seedlings used by growers. She said the township has turned a local farming custom into a lively event that draws visitors from across Taiwan.
Chou said local rice noodle shops were full during the event, showing its effect on nearby businesses. She said the county would continue supporting the annual event and promote Jiadong’s Dragon Boat watermelon tradition more widely.
UDN reported that the design contest winner, Huang Chiung-chen (黃瓊貞), came from nearby Fangliao Township with her family. Her work used watermelon and wax apple themes to highlight two major Jiadong crops.
Huang said she reused fruit packaging to make handmade decorations for the entry. She said the time limit made the process tense but fun.
The event was organized by the Jiadong Township Office and the local farmers’ association. Many Shiguangjian residents work in watermelon seedling grafting and farming, with growers often renting land across Taiwan and bringing harvested fruit back to Jiadong for sale, CTS News reported.
The office said this pattern has helped Jiadong become known as Taiwan’s “watermelon hometown.” It said the event connects the Dragon Boat Festival with local agriculture and brings more attention to local farm products.
