The Taitung Good Rice Harvest Festival and Hakka Feast Will Be Held for Three Consecutive Weeks

The Hakka Affairs Section of the County Government’s Civil Affairs Department stated that the first week will feature the “Kickoff Blessing – Harvest Fun” event, to be held tomorrow (December 4) in front of the Fude Temple in Chishang Township. The annual rice harvest by Hakka farming families is a major event, and offerings are usually prepared to worship the local Bao Gong (Earth God) to pray for favorable weather and smooth work at the start. Farm owners also typically carry lunch in shoulder baskets to serve their helping relatives and friends around noon.

Starting at 9 a.m. on December 4, the event will take place in the plaza in front of Fude Temple in Chishang Township on Provincial Highway 9. Activities include Hakka eight-tone music, Amis harvest celebration music, kickoff blessing ceremonies, rice harvesting experiences, Hakka gourmet feasts, and free large bowl eating experiences.

Additionally, the second week on December 11 will host the “National Straw Art Creation Competition and Sketching Competition,” and the third week on December 18 will feature gold divination for gold medals and a Hakka feast table reservation activity. Traditional Hakka dishes such as braised pork with preserved mustard greens, Hakka stir-fry, Chishang free-range chicken, pickled vegetable pork soup, and ginger-stirred pork intestines will be cooked for those who reserve tables, allowing visitors to enjoy the flower seas and stage performances while savoring authentic Hakka cuisine. Moreover, table reservation participants can also join the grand finale “Century-Old Feast Without Paying” lucky draw, where three lucky winners will get to eat for free in the year 2011 of the Republic of China. The table material fee is NT$2,500 per table, with up to 50 tables available until fully booked. Reservations can be made through Taitung Green Design, Chishang Cuihua Bistro, or Chishang Bookstore.