Head to Xinyi Township to "Seek Plum Blossoms in the Snow" – the perfect time to admire plum blossoms and soak in hot springs

The Xinyi Township Farmers' Association's "Seek Plum Blossoms in the Snow" features a rolling oak barrel competition. (Photo by Liao Zhihuang)

The Xinyi Township Farmers' Association's "Seek Plum Blossoms in the Snow" event kicks off at Liu Family Plum Garden in Niuchongkeng. (Photo by Liao Zhihuang)

The highlight of Nantou Flower Carnival series — the Xinyi Township Farmers' Association's "Seek Plum Blossoms in the Snow", featuring rolling oak barrels and couples' back-carrying competitions, kicked off on the 7th. Due to consecutive days of winter rain making the ground slippery, the couples’ back-carrying contest was changed to a mixed competition of adult and youth groups, adding even more fun. The plum blossoms in Xinyi Township are now in full bloom. Enjoy the flowers and then head to Dongpu for some hot spring soaking — your body and mind will both feel refreshed.

Now in its 18th year, the fun-filled "Seek Plum Blossoms in the Snow" event featured its rolling oak barrel games at Liu Family Plum Garden in Niuchongkeng. Despite recent rain making the grounds damp, it still attracted a large crowd who came together to enjoy the plum blossom experience.

Huang Zhihui, General Manager of the Xinyi Township Farmers' Association, said that due to climatic factors, this year’s flowering season is about a week later than usual. However, with recent rainfall and falling temperatures, the plum blossoms have gradually begun to bloom. It is expected that they will be in full bloom over the next two weeks. He welcomes the public to visit Xinyi Township to admire the flowers and also encourages them to purchase high-quality agricultural specialties from the area.

Huang Zhihui stated that, in order to prevent participants from slipping and ensure the safety of the event, the competitions have been adapted into fun formats. The couples' back-carrying race no longer separates youth and adult groups but has been combined into one. Simply “walking” the entire course counts as completing the race. The top three winners’ bottles of plum wine will be evenly distributed among all participants.

Although the couples' back-carrying competition took on a fun format, participants still gave their all after the start, racing along the course back to the finish line. Chen Jia’en from the original adult group and Hong Guoyu from the youth group tied for first place.

Chen Jia’en, who has won the championship for four consecutive years, expressed gratitude to the Xinyi Township Farmers' Association for organizing the "Seek Plum Blossoms in the Snow" event, bringing everyone together every year. Hong Guoyu said he was happy to compete and tie for first with the seasoned adult group champions this year.

Gu Daohong, Chairman of the Dongpu Hot Spring Tourism Promotion Association in Xinyi Township, said that Dongpu Hot Springs originate from the spring system beneath Yushan and is the oldest hot spring area in Nantou County. It is a sodium bicarbonate spring, which not only moisturizes the skin but also benefits overall health. The seven hotels and six homestays in the area are all legitimate businesses, ensuring safety and quality. Many offer special discounts on non-holiday days, so everyone is welcome to come and soak in the hot springs of Dongpu.

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