2020 Hakka Twelve Major Festivals: Taitung Good Rice Winter Harvest Festival Is Buzzing with Excitement

Taitung County - The final event of the 2020 Hakka Twelve Major Festivals "Taitung Good Rice Winter Harvest Festival" series was held recently at the Tiehua New Settlement in Taitung City, featuring the third "Dance 'Rice' Competition," with 14 competing teams showcasing their skills on the same stage, demonstrating the power and beauty of stomping dance culture. In the end, "Caiyun Dance Troupe" from Hualien won the championship with its richly detailed "Hakka-style" choreography and brilliant dance performance. County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling personally presented the champion prize of 30,000 yuan. Deputy County Magistrate Wang Chih-hui, Legislator Liu Chao-hao, Hakka Affairs Council member Peng Sui-ling, and many other honored guests also specially attended to cheer on the competing teams.

On a breezy afternoon, the entire pedestrian walkway of the Tiehua New Settlement was packed with crowds, like a giant stage. In addition to wonderful Hakka music and dance, strolling through market food and other eat-drink-play activities, everyone gathered at the stage to dance the Winter Harvest Festival grand line dance along with lively Hakka tunes. A total of 14 Hakka arts and culture teams from Taitung local areas as well as Hualien and Pingtung took turns performing, paired with dazzling costumes and dynamic props, going all out to compete in dance skills along the crowded walkway, showcasing unique Hakka cultural heritage. In the end, "Caiyun Dance Troupe" from Hualien won the grand championship with graceful dance moves and dynamic rhythms, earning thunderous applause. County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling specially rushed back from the East Coast to present the champion prize of 30,000 yuan.

The surrounding activities were also quite lively. In addition to the Hakka banquet picnic and the crowd-attracting market, the evening lawn concert featured Golden Melody Award-winning Hakka singer Luo Wen-yu sharing his musical journey of connecting young energy and going deep into Hakka villages. Everyone sat on straw piles smelling the fragrance of rice and rice paddies, and in his heartfelt singing, brought this year's Taitung Good Rice Winter Harvest Festival to a warm and beautiful conclusion.