By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
The 2016 Pingtung Rice Field Life Festival was held in "Longshui," Taiwan's southernmost organic rice-growing region. Nestled against the sea and facing the mountains, Longshui boasts abundant natural spring water irrigation. Through the Rice Field Life Festival, it not only highlights Pingtung's exquisite colored rice cultivation techniques but also promotes the values of land-friendly farming, small-scale farmer culture, and ecological sustainability from a food-and-agriculture spirit. Combining colored rice art motifs, master chef culture, and century-old flavors, the festival showcases Pingtung's rich cultural heritage right on the rice fields.
Pingtung is one of Taiwan's major agricultural counties, with picturesque rural scenery. (Image source / 2016 Pingtung Colored Rice Life Festival)
Upholding the food-and-agriculture spirit, the Pingtung Colored Rice Life Festival has always hoped to transform Longshui—a rare gem of a place—into more than just a photo-op "pit stop," but a gathering spot to foster connections and create memories. With this vision, the concept of a "Rice Field Dining Table" was introduced. In Longshui, known as the "Hometown of Master Chefs," paired with the area’s premium water, rice, and ingredients, it’s a match made in heaven.
Master chefs whip up their signature dishes for visitors to experience. (Image source / 2016 Pingtung Colored Rice Life Festival)
Key Highlights of the Event
[Rice Field Dining Table]The 2016 Pingtung Colored Rice Life Festival hosted a grand feast prepared by master chefs right on the rice fields. Five top chefs from Pingtung engaged in a culinary showdown between mountain and coastal styles, cooking up a variety of local ingredients under the setting sun on the rice fields. They created a romantic dining experience in the middle of the paddies. Five chefs—Liu Rongyu from Fangliao, Zhu Zhiyang from Mudan, A-Shun from Wanlitong, Lin Qiuyue from Longshui, and Shen Meixiang from Longshui—served dishes amidst the rice fields.
Rice Field Dining Table – Master Chefs Serve Up a Feast
4:30–5:00 PM: Check-in at the rice fields & introduction to Longshui’s organic rice-growing area
5:00–5:30 PM: Introduction to local ingredients by master chefs & sharing of chefs’ stories
5:30–7:00 PM: Dining begins—enjoy a sumptuous Rice Field Dining Table dinner
Prices for the Master Chefs’ Dining experience vary by chef and menu. Limited tables available; advance booking required.
Longshui Community Traditional Rice Food DIY
Experience the sweetness of organic rice from Langjiao. Families and kids are welcome to DIY red turtle cakes | *|*|* and enjoy the most authentic and delightful traditional rice treats.
Activity dates: April 2–5, and every Saturday & Sunday during the event period
Location: Longshui Community Kitchen (next to Baoling Temple in Longshui Village)
Six sessions daily: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
Duration: One hour per session
Fee: NT$200 per person
Registration: Advance booking or on-site registration (limited slots; early booking recommended)
Booking hotline: 0978-935-922
Longshui Community Big Bowl Rice
With its sweet and fragrant rice, Longshui introduces a Big Bowl Rice dish that combines local ingredients, reflecting the community’s vibrant rice food culture.
Big Bowl Rice originates from the hearty meals farmers would prepare during busy planting seasons to treat helping hands.
A variety of local ingredients served in a big bowl not only offers a nostalgic, old-fashioned taste but also represents the farmers’ sincerity and warmth.
Activity time: Every day from Sunday to Friday, 11:00–14:00
Location: Longshui Community Kitchen (next to Baoling Temple in Longshui Village)
Fee: NT$200 per serving (limited to 30 servings per day)
Registration Method: Please make a reservation three days in advance (limited spots available; early booking is recommended).
Reservation Hotline: 0978-935-922
The organic farmlands of Pingtung produce fresh, local fruits and vegetables, showcasing the spirit of agritourism. (Image source / 2016 Pingtung Colored Rice Life Festival)
[Rice Paddy Experience]
Event Period: April 2nd – April 5th, as well as every Saturday and Sunday during the event periodSaturday sessions: 14:00–16:00; Sunday sessions: 09:00–11:00
Event Fee: NT$250 per person
Registration Method: Pre-registration or on-site sign-up
Notes: Due to limited slots, rice seedlings will be prepared in advance; for pre-registration, please sign up three days before the event.
(For example: For the April 3rd event, registration closes by 5:00 PM on April 1st)
Registration Phone: 0978-935-922
Longshui Village, backed by the sea and facing the mountains, is richly irrigated by natural springs. (Image source / 2016 Pingtung Colored Rice Life Festival)
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