The Miaoli Preserved Mustard Greens Culture Festival kicks off—come be a “guest” and squeeze greens, grind leicha

By Liu Jiawen / Compiled & Reported

As one of the 12 major Hakka village festivals, the Miaoli Gongguan Hakka Preserved Mustard Greens Culture Festival runs from today until January 15 (Sun) at Tonghua Park in Tongluo Township. On every Saturday and Sunday during the event period (except for the election voting day on the 14th), visitors can sign up on-site to experience DIY preserved mustard green squeezing, with a daily limit of 800 participants. The event also offers 2,000 free servings of preserved mustard green soup for tasting, as well as leicha (pounded tea) experiences, local specialty product exhibitions, and performances by cultural and art groups. The highlight will take place on the afternoon of the 15th, featuring a performance of the harvest opera “The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea” by the Rongxing Hakka Tea-Picking Opera Troupe.

To welcome the Year of the Dragon, this year’s preserved mustard green culture festival is themed “Celebrating a Bumper Harvest with Blessings.” In addition, the Hakka Courtyard within Tonghua Park showcases the process of making preserved mustard greens, including three stages: planting, pickling, and sharing. It also displays various types of preserved greens such as leaf mustard, pickled vegetables, preserved mustard greens, and dried mustard greens, along with vintage photos by renowned photographer Xie Qiz. Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich Hakka culture.

Miaoli County’s Gongguan Township cultivates mustard greens on approximately 30 hectares of land, with an annual yield of about 2.5 million jin, making it the largest preserved mustard green producing area among all Hakka villages in Taiwan, often referred to as the “hometown of preserved mustard greens.” Last year’s inaugural National Hakka Preserved Mustard Green Culture Festival set a Guinness World Record for “1,000 people treading on pickled vegetables.” Not only did the preserved mustard greens sell well, but the event also successfully highlighted their diverse value. This year’s event continues in that spirit, welcoming visitors from all over to Miaoli to experience Hakka lifestyle and culture.