Red-skinned small watermelon seeds

Last updated 2026-11-13 — In Lijiang, there’s a tempting snack called “red-skinned small watermelon seeds.” The area of Daju in Lijiang produces watermelons, and these seeds come from that variety. They cost 18 yuan per kilogram, and most households have them available year-round. Besides eating them at home, they’re also served to guests. These tiny, round seeds are much smaller than “Ali Mountain watermelon seeds,” with a light pinkish-red shell and white kernels. They taste quite good, but if you’re not skilled at cracking them, you’ll get very little edible part even after a long time—just as tedious as cracking sunflower seeds. However, locals in Lijiang eat them effortlessly, chatting and laughing as a pile of shells piles up beneath them.