Celebrate the Rice Harvest in Chishang with Hakka Winter Thanksgiving

By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported

Known for producing premium rice, Chishang Township in Taitung County will hold the “Premium Rice Winter Thanksgiving” event from November 26 to December 4 to celebrate a year of peace and bountiful harvest. On the opening day, there will be a blessing ceremony for the rice harvest and farming experience activities, allowing the public to harvest rice barefoot in the fields. Traditional early-style rice harvest meals will also be served on-site, and commemorative century bowls will be given out, offering a taste of the traditional dining culture of Hakka farming families.

Additionally, continuing the annual tradition of Hakka Winter Theater, an evening performance of Hakka opera will be held in Guanshan Township, featuring a play about Goddess Linshui performed by the Jingsheng Drama Troupe. The carnival event on December 4 will take place at the Taitung County Hakka Cultural Park, where a thousand-guest Hakka cuisine banquet will be served. The event will also feature performances by well-known artists and local Hakka cultural groups, as well as handicraft markets and premium rice sales booths, where visitors can purchase high-quality souvenirs directly from farmers. An interactive zone will also be set up, offering Hakka-themed, rice-culture, and farming-related challenges, allowing participants to learn Hakka phrases in a fun way and win prizes.

In conjunction with the Premium Rice Winter Thanksgiving event, a blog contest has also been organized. Participants who attend the event and post a blog entry of over 100 words along with photos will be eligible to win. Thirty winners will receive one kilogram of premium rice selected from Taitung. Visitors staying overnight in Taitung County during the event period can also exchange their accommodation receipts for a limited pack of premium Taitung rice at the event venue.

Event official website: www.taitung-hakka.com.tw