Have a great meal at "Golden Melon No. 3" in Pinglin – a stylish dining table in the countryside

▲ Golden Melon No. 3. (Photo / Screenshot fromGolden Melon No. 3's official Facebook page, the same below)

By Peng Huaiyu / Comprehensive report

How long has it been since you had a proper meal while living in the city? Through communal cooking, shared meals, and the sharing economy, food and agriculture education is truly thriving in the mountainous region of Pinglin. "Golden Melon No. 3," jointly founded by a group of ambitious young people, originally started as a homestay offering accommodation and work exchanges. It has since incorporated interactive activities such as food workshops, allowing many to rediscover this once-forgotten land through deeper experiences.

▲ "Golden Melon No. 3" is both a homestay and a workshop.

"Golden Melon No. 3" is both a homestay and a workshop. Founded in the summer of 2013 by young people like Tsai Wei-de and Wu Shu-hsien by chance, it aims to connect local culture, industries, and natural resources. By integrating life aesthetics into "food culture" and "mountain experiences," it offers various tour programs that allow visitors to experience rich cultural flavors.

▲ At Golden Melon No. 3, no one cooks your meal for you – members work together to prepare it.

Most uniquely, "Golden Melon No. 3" runs a "Stylish Dining Table in the Countryside" program. Following the cycle of the 24 solar terms, it insists that every ingredient on the table comes from the local area. No one cooks your meal for you – instead, members work together, with some washing vegetables, others chopping, and some cooking, until the meal is finally served. This simple interaction brings everyone closer and makes the food taste even better.

▲ "Golden Melon No. 3" has a "Stylish Dining Table in the Countryside" program.

In addition, interacting with local farmers and businesses is also a key philosophy of "Golden Melon No. 3." It leads visitors to explore local specialty shops and inherit the stories of Pinglin. The itinerary also includes activities like planting vegetables, picking tea leaves, and even having a riverside picnic along the Fish and Fern Trail to absorb the essence of nature and rediscover your most genuine self.

▲ A riverside picnic along the Fish and Fern Trail is one of the activities.

"Golden Melon No. 3" regularly hosts one-day and two-day tour activities. By listening to the stories of locals, connecting with new friends, or enjoying an intimate encounter with nature, this kind of spiritual fulfillment cannot be provided by any material goods.

▲ Golden Melon No. 3 also sells products from small-scale farmers and cultural and creative goods.

Official Facebook page
Transportation: Exit at Pinglin Interchange on National Freeway No. 5, head toward Pinglin, and turn onto Jinguailiao Road No. 3. (Google Maps navigation: “Golden Melon No. 3”)