888 watermelons 'balanced' in southern Taiwan

南台灣「立」西瓜888顆

Pingtung swaps eggs for watermelons at annual Dragon Boat Festival event


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Pingtung County’s Jiadong Township marked the Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday by balancing 888 watermelons at noon in a lively street celebration.

Traditionally, balancing eggs during the holiday is thought to bring peace and harmony for the year ahead. Jiadong, while not a major watermelon producer, supplies 80% of Taiwan’s watermelon seedlings, per Liberty Times.

This year’s record attempt saw 888 large watermelons carefully balanced along a main street, which was closed to traffic for the event. Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) presided over the gathering, calling Jiadong the "home of watermelons."

Shihguang and Yuguang villages are well-known for grafted watermelon seedling cultivation, supporting farmers in regions such as Hualien, Tainan, and Yunlin. The area also plays a key role in the distribution of mature watermelons to markets across Taiwan.

Lin Shu-ling (林淑玲), general secretary of the Jiadong Township Farmers’ Association, said local farmers initiated the first watermelon balancing event in 2018 with 139 melons. The farmers’ association later took over, growing the event to 520 watermelons the next year, and even 999 melons during a special event on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei.

Saturday’s event also featured a watermelon-eating contest, with teams from government agencies and schools competing for prize money. Audience members were treated to watermelon as well.

According to the Agriculture and Food Agency, Jiadong’s watermelon seedlings were used to plant 7,322 hectares in 2022, yielding 126,600 tons of watermelon and generating NT$2.4 billion (US$80.4 million) in value.

The township’s farmers have refined the practice of grafting watermelon onto pumpkin seedlings, enhancing cold resistance and sweetness. These seedlings can be grown year-round, even in fallow riverbed land.

Lin hoped the event could allow the public to appreciate Jiadong Township's agricultural innovation and spirit of solidarity. The activity also benefits the local economy, with shops and food stalls benefiting from more visitors.