Forecast: The Best Blossom Conditions in Over a Decade!\nThe “Snow and Plum Blossoms” Event on New Central Cross-Island Highway Kicks Off on the 23rd

During the “Snow and Plum Blossoms” warm-up event on the 21st, the Pasibutbut (Eight-Part Harmony for Millet Harvest) performance by Bunun students from Xinxing Elementary School was particularly eye-catching. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

Organizers of the “Snow and Plum Blossoms” event demonstrated the making of the “Plum Sushi Relay” on the opening day, emphasizing quality agricultural product collaboration and the creation of unique features. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

A couple carries the “11-Degree Plum Wine from Malasang” to be awarded as prize for the competition. This wine just won a gold medal at the Council of Agriculture’s “2017 Rural Wineries and Liquor Evaluation” last month. (Drinking in excess is harmful to health) (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

The flower sea at Liujia Plum Garden’s “hidden gem” area is spectacular, but the Nantou County Xinyi Township Farmers’ Association forecasts that “this season’s blossom conditions will be even better.” (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

The 2015 flower sea at Waipingding. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

The blooming scene at Tuchang in 2016. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

The annual “Snow and Plum Blossoms” plum blossom viewing season in Xinyi Township, Nantou, will officially open on the 23rd at the Plum Dream Factory. On January 7th, the theme day will move to Liujia Plum Garden in Niuchongkeng, featuring a “Couple Carry” competition. The winning couple will receive a number of bottles of the national gold-medal liquor “11-Degree Plum Wine from Malasang” equal to the weight of the person being carried in kilograms. During the warm-up event on the 21st, organizers have already announced: “The best blossom conditions in over a decade!”

Huang Zhihui, General Manager of Xinyi Township Farmers’ Association, said that since the start of winter this year, several cold fronts have passed through, and due to ample moisture, Yushan has also seen several snowfalls. Compared to previous years, this winter’s temperature and humidity conditions are the most suitable for normal plum blossom blooming. Based on observations of bud and early bloom stages across various settlements and plum gardens, this season’s blossom conditions will be the best in over ten years.

Liu Qingxiang, owner of the key plum blossom viewing area in Xinyi Township — Liujia Plum Garden in Niuchongkeng — also said that actually, whether the blossom condition is good or not at the end of each year can be roughly predicted halfway through when harvesting takes place in April and May. Plants have bumper and off years, and harvest quality generally cycles every three years. Though not absolute, experienced plum farmers can discern clues based on the plant’s dryness and sprouting during harvest.

Liu Qingxiang said that based on plant conditions earlier this year, it was already possible to foresee that the blossom conditions would be great, with at least a 50% accuracy rate. The other half depends on the weather — if climatic conditions keep going against the plants’ physiological needs, then not even the gods can help. But so far, things really do look good, and a full bloom is expected.

Huang Zhihui pointed out that this series of events has reached its 18th edition this year. Looking back to when it first began, it was originally positioned as a regional plum blossom viewing trip along the New Central Cross-Island Highway for villages in Xinyi Township, but later expanded to its current scale with the support and attention of Magistrate Lin Mingzhen.

Wang Yuanzhong, Director of the County Government Tourism Department, said that this year’s event is part of Nantou County’s Flower Carnival, jointly organized by Xinyi Township Farmers’ Association and Jiji Township Farmers’ Association. To deepen the mutual cooperation of specialty agricultural industries, the opening event on the 23rd will integrate Xinyi Township’s green plum industry with Jiji Township’s nationally award-winning pitaya and top-tier mountain bananas, hosting a “Plum Sushi Relay.”

Li Chongqing, General Manager of Jiji Township Farmers’ Association, said that the “Make Plum Sushi Yourself, Join the Thousand-Person Relay Gourmet Feast” event on the 23rd already has hundreds of reservations. On-site registration will still be accepted on the day of the event for a fee of NT$100. In addition to participating in the special sushi making, participants will also receive a valuable voucher for the Home Economics Class Kitchen’s specialty cuisine fair.

Huang Zhihui noted that the “Sweet Burden, Couple Carry” competition to be held on January 7th at Liujia Plum Garden has been running for years and has received much positive feedback. Based on past experience, most participants are husbands carrying their wives, but if a wife manages to carry her husband and win the championship, the number of bottles of premium liquor awarded will be doubled.

He said that the reward “11-Degree Plum Wine from Malasang” just won a gold medal at the Council of Agriculture’s “2017 Rural Wineries and Liquor Evaluation” last month, making it the freshly crowned national champion liquor. Besides the Couple Carry, there is also an “Oak Barrel Rolling” competition suitable for couples and parent-child participation. Participants who register and complete either competition will receive prizes.

Key plum blossom viewing areas in Xinyi Township include Niuchongkeng, Wusong, Fengguidou, and the Tuchang plum area near Kilometer 98 on the New Central Cross-Island Highway, which has only recently been introduced. In addition, Waipingding in Tongfu Village is also worth a visit. According to Huang Zhihui’s estimate, the prime period will be the first two weeks of January next year, with the plum blossom season expected to last until the end of the month.

(Drinking in excess is harmful to health)