By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported
Known for its premium rice production, Chishang Township in Taitung County will hold the “Premium Rice Harvest Festival” 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 to mark the start of the rice harvest, as well as farming experience activities that allow the public to harvest rice barefoot in the fields. Traditional old-style “rice-cutting meals” will also be served on-site, and commemorative hundred-year bowls will be given out, giving everyone a taste of the traditional dining culture of Hakka farming families.
In conjunction with the Harvest Festival, rice experts will be invited to lead the public in hands-on farming experiences. (Photo provided by Taitung County Government)
Additionally, continuing the annual tradition of Hakka harvest performances, an evening of Hakka opera will be held in Guanshan that night, featuring a performance by the Jing Sheng Drama Troupe portraying the deity Goddess Linshui. 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 entertainers and local Hakka cultural and art groups, along with handicraft markets and booths selling premium rice where visitors can purchase quality souvenirs directly from farmers. An interactive area will also be set up, offering Hakka-themed, rice-cuisine culture, and farming-related challenge games, allowing participants to learn Hakka phrases in a fun way and win prizes.
The event site on December 4 will feature a handicraft market with booths selling flower-cloth lanterns, dyed textiles, and Hakka delicacies. (Photo provided by Taitung County Government)
In conjunction with the Premium Rice Harvest Festival, a blog competition has also been organized. Participants who attend the event and post a personal blog entry of over 100 words along with photos will be eligible to win. Thirty winners will receive one kilogram of specially selected Taitung premium rice. Visitors staying overnight in Taitung County during the event period can also exchange their accommodation receipts for a limited-edition pack of Taitung premium rice at the event venue.
Event official website: www.taitung-hakka.com.tw