Jiadong's Dragon Boat Festival 'Thousand Watermelons' event sets record; Pingtung's watermelons hailed as best in Taiwan

Jiadong Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan – A unique Dragon Boat Festival tradition saw over a thousand watermelons standing upright on a road, setting a new record and drawing crowds to Jiadong Township.

The "Thousand Watermelons Praying for Blessings" event, held at noon on the festival day, created a spectacular scene as participants worked together to balance the large fruits. Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi attended the event, praising Jiadong's watermelons, which account for 60% of Taiwan's production and are renowned for their top quality.

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The unique 'standing watermelon' tradition continues to create and break world records. This year, over 1,100 people participated, creating a very spectacular scene.

Jiadong's farmers are often described as "nomads of the watermelon world." They cultivate seedlings and grow watermelons in leased riverbeds across Taiwan, following the seasons before transporting the mature fruits back to Jiadong for sale. This arduous journey underscores their commitment to producing high-quality watermelons.

"Every Dragon Boat Festival, we come to Jiadong," said Magistrate Chou. "The unique 'standing watermelon' tradition continues to create and break world records. This year, over 1,100 people participated, creating a very spectacular scene." She noted that the event perfectly blends the traditional egg-standing custom with local agriculture, allowing visitors to deeply understand Jiadong's watermelon culture and promote its premium produce, thereby creating new agricultural value for the region.

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Every Dragon Boat Festival, we come to Jiadong. The unique 'standing watermelon' tradition continues to create and break world records. This year, over 1,100 people participated, creating a very spectacular scene.