Longgang Rice Noodle Festival offers rich cultural experiences

Longgang Rice Noodle Festival offers rich cultural experiences

2025-04-21

Toayuan’s annual Longgang Rice Noodle Festival just kicked off this past Satuday. Now in its 15th year, the festival celebrates the rich culture of the region bordering southwest China and northern South East Asian. Celebrations this year incorporates water splashing rituals of the Myanmar New Year, Torch Festival activities of the Yi people as well as open-air banquets of the Hani people. Exciting activities lasting into the evening awaits the public, until the end of this week.

Marching ahead with music, Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng and the troupe performs a water splashing ritual, bringing blessings to revelers. The annual Taoyuan Longgang Rice Noodle Festival, now in its 15th year, officially kicked off on the 19th.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan mayor
Just now we’ve performed a water splashing ritual for blessings and to kick off the rice noodle festival. What’s special about this edition is that we’ve also invited many international dignitaries stationed in Taiwan. As in the past, they’re also here to enjoy the delicacies.

The theme this year is to welcome blessings for peace and prosperity. Apart from water splashing, other festivities of ethnic peoples living on the border between southwest China and northern South East Asia can also be experienced, such as the Torch Festival celebrations of the Yi people and open-air banquets of the Hani people. Following the recent Myanmar Earthquake, blessings were also offered for affected regions. Donations can also be made for rebuilding efforts.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan mayor
Taoyuan is not only a multicultural city. It’s also a city that’s very active in fostering international friendships. We also hope that the Longgang Rice Noodle Festival can continue to be promoted.

Apart from ethnic delicacies, visitors can also participate in walking tours, try out handicrafts and traditional clothing, and more with 60-plus local vendors. The rich culture of southwest China and northern South East Asia can be experienced right here in Taiwan, until the 27th.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#culture #Taoyuan #songkran #Yunnan #Myanmar #龍岡米干節 #桃園

桃園龍岡米干節登場! 體驗滇緬文化.品嚐異域風味美食

2025-04-21

桃園市一年一度的龍岡米干節，邁入第15年，週六盛大登場，今年以潑水節、火把節與長街宴為三大亮點，從白天一路精彩到夜晚。希望遊客到訪龍岡，能認識異域文化、品嚐道地美食。

搭配異國風情樂曲，一路上載歌載舞，桃園市長張善政，跟著隊伍，沿路為民眾灑水祈福，桃園市龍岡米干節，邁入第15年，19號熱鬧登場。

[[桃園市長張善政]]
“剛才我們已經用潑水祈福儀式，來啟動了我們的這個米干節，那麼這次特別的就是，我們還是邀了很多，駐台的國外的使節代表，他們有如往年一樣，享受我們的這些美食”

2025龍岡米干節，以祈願平安為主軸，不只潑水祈福，還有火把求吉、長街宴，各式特色美食及豐富體驗活動，除了延續往年的熱鬧氣氛外，近期正逢泰緬地震，活動將於潑水節與火把節期間，加入祈福儀式，並設置募款攤位，替災區盡一份心力。

[[桃園市長張善政]]
“我們桃園不只是一個，多元族群融合的一個城市，也是一個國際友誼，非常非常熱絡的城市，那麼期待這個龍岡米干節，繼續發揚光大”

從街頭踩街、手作DIY，到民族服飾體驗，龍岡每個角落充滿豐富文化魅力。現場更有超過60家在地米干店響應節慶，活動一路到27日，想要體驗滇緬文化的民眾，可得好好把握機會，到訪體驗。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

Related News

International gold price reaches US$3,389 per ounce

2025-04-21

Lawmakers tired of getting drenched in Huang Kuo-chang’s spit

2025-04-21

Measles case number hits 6-year high with most imported from Vietnam: CDC

2025-04-21

Bands, flag corps and honor guards from 17 schools perform in Taipei

An annual performance of bands, honor guards and flag corps from schools across the country was held on Sunday at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium. Performers from 17 schools across Taiwan took turns to strut their stuff, dazzling the audience with their skills and youthful energy. This year’s event was themed on equality, to coincide with Taiwan’s Gender Equality Education Day.

An annual show featuring marching bands and honor guards kicked off on Sunday, with even the World Masters Games mascot Strong making an appearance at the event. Bands from 17 schools across Taiwan took part, each taking turns demonstrating their unique talents.

Chen Ching-yi
Hsinchu Girls’ Senior High School majorette
Personally, I am looking forward to Chien Kuo High School’s performance, because they have flag bearers and they twirl rifles – which I think is very impressive.

Chih Yi-chen
Shilin High School of Commerce
There are some rifle twirling techniques that novices may not be familiar with. In that case, a practice rifle may allow for more stability. A performance rifle could be used after you master the practice one.

The Minquan Elementary School wind ensemble performed together with a cheerleading squad, presenting a cute and playful performance. Despite their youth, the band members practice hard, and put on an impressive show.

Kao Tien-jui
Minquan Elementary School
On weekends, we have to practice finding our places in the formation. That is, for every formation, we need to connect the picture. Then we put it to music, and present it all together.

The Chien Kuo High School flag corps, which has long shone on the international stage with its orderly marching, will represent Taiwan in the 2025 World Championships for Marching Show Bands, to be held in August in Indonesia.

Chuang Chih-chun
Chien Kuo High School principal
The seniors tell me that when they encounter difficulties in life in the future, they will reflect on their perseverance during hard times in high school. If they could handle such difficulties, what else in life could they not handle?

Shih Chia-cheng
Chenggong High School honor guard coach
They had to strengthen their arms so that they could throw the gun higher and twirl it more steadily. They also run to increase their cardiopulmonary capacity, and so on. In fact, going through a whole performance is quite physically demanding.

Seizing the opportunity for exchange, the bands and flag corps of each school put on their best performances, while enjoying the show put on by others.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-04-21

Kaohsiung residents come out to support onigiri shop owners harassed by landlady

A couple that runs a Japanese rice ball shop in Kaohsiung was recently harassed by their landlady, who purportedly was made jealous by their shop’s business success and wanted to cancel the rental agreement. On one occasion, she went to the shop and destroyed some of the furniture. On Sunday morning, many local residents turned out at their shop to show support. The female shop owner said her husband, a 60-year-old Japanese man, was in tears and that he didn’t expect everyone to be so compassionate.

Some people came to cheer on the owner, while others came to show support by making a purchase. They all came to rally behind the Japanese owner of this shop that makes onigiri, or rice balls. The owners saw their furniture and potted plants smashed up by their landlady.

Supporter
The landlady crossed the line, so I came here to support the Japanese owner.

Supporter
The Japanese owner must have felt pretty helpless when he encountered this problem.

The landlady of this Japanese rice ball shop in Kaohsiung’s Gushan District was purportedly jealous of the shop’s good business and wanted to cancel the rental agreement and take back the store. She quarreled with the store owner many times, constantly harassing him with various accusations. On one occasion, she even smashed the flower pots and furniture in front of the store. The rice ball shop owner had had enough and was planning to move. When word got out, members of the public came out to buy his rice balls to show support.

Supporter
We Taiwanese are very kind. People say that the most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is the people, and that would be the Taiwanese people.

Support
It’s OK. Maybe the next place will be better.

Chang Mei-chuan
Rice ball shop owner
We have been making rice balls and haven’t taken a break yet. Last night my husband was reading the messages people left us, and he was in tears. He didn’t expect everyone to be so compassionate.

In response to this outpouring of sympathy, the shop’s owner, Mr. Higuchi, held up a sign to thank people for their support. The owner and his wife opened the store in Kaohsiung in February last year. After a strong typhoon, the husband held up a sign that read "Hang in there, Kaohsiung!" to cheer on their disaster-struck city. Despite their landlady’s harassment, they felt warmed seeing many fellow residents come out to support them with their wallets.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-04-21

A company tour group from Malaysia arrives in Taiwan bringing 1,000 travelers

2025-04-21

ABBA tribute show debuts in Taiwan

2025-04-21

Yunlin police officer returns generosity by raising money for family center

This is someone with a truly kind heart. When police officer Chen Chih-ming was a boy, he made it through tough times with help from a family support center. After he passed the police exam and joined Yunlin’s Huwei precinct, he wanted to return the favor. So he collects household items for sale and donates all the proceeds to the center to help other kids in need, paying forward the kindness he received all those years ago.

40-year-old Chen Chih-ming works as a police officer at Huwei precinct in Yunlin. When he was younger, a local family support center helped him as he prepared for the exam. Now he not only looks out for the public, but also sells items online to support the center.

Chen started a group that sells items like kitchen utensils for $50 or $100 apiece. Every dollar he earns comes from caring members of his community.

Chen Chih-ming
Huwei precinct police officer
I received help from people before. How could I not do something in return? But as a police officer, I can’t take on any side jobs. One day, I had the idea to gather items from people, whether new or secondhand. After selling them for money, I could regularly make donations to the center.

Chen and his sister spent most of their childhood at the center. Class time and camp were what he looked forward to the most, where he learned many skills and was exposed to different things and people. It was also where he developed a lifelong penchant for social work.

Chen’s father passed away when he was five years old, leaving his mother to support the family on her meager textile factory salary. The center helped them through the toughest times. After graduating from high school, Chen passed the exams to become a social worker and police officer. He ultimately chose to pursue police work.

Chen Chih-ming
Huwei precinct police officer
We had prepared for the college entrance exam, but I also took the police exam. I passed it, and the same year also passed the exam for social work. I figured that police have some authority. At the time, I thought it would allow me to do more.

Chen returned to his hometown to work as a police officer. During the day he works hard at his job. Some cases he’s even been following for six months, keeping in touch with the people involved and even becoming their friend. To many he’s not just a police officer. He’s their protector.

Chen Chih-ming
Huwei precinct police officer
We really receive a lot of domestic violence reports. Some of the time, if you talk with them a bit more, they’ll be moved by what you say. Or they’ll take it in after a few days and it’ll help them open up.

Receiving help as a child planted the seed of philanthropy in Chen’s heart. Wanting to do more has been his guiding light ever since he joined the force. From daily patrols to online charity sales, this police officer has turned his hardship into the drive to help others, paying it forward for others like him.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#charity #philanthropy #policeofficer #Huwei #Yunlin #familysupportcenter #payitfoward

2025-04-21

Blooming longan boosts honey harvest 30% from last year

Spurred bythe low temperatures broughtby cold fronts this winter,the flowers have begun to bloom. Longan blossoms are flourishing, meaning a rare bumper harvest for longan honey. Following the beekeepers, we went to the mountainous areas of Tainan, where the beehives are bursting. Compared to last year, the harvest is up 20 to 30%, assuaging beekeepers’ worries.

Swarms of bees take to the sky as soon as the hive is opened. Thanks to this winter’s cold fronts, the longan flowers are in full bloom. This also means a rare bumper harvest for longan honey.

Lin Jui-ying
Beekeeper
In the over 30 years I’ve kept bees, I’ve never seen so many blossoms. It hasn’t even rained.

For a large honey harvest, beekeepers must follow the flowers. Along with her husband from Pingtung, they came to the mountains of Tainan to collect honey. Not just inside the beehives, but even the mesh is covered in honeycomb. It’s a totally different story from last year.

Chen Ming-hsu
Beekeeper
Since there basically wasn’t any harvest last year, this year there’s a bumper harvest. This is God’s way of giving us beekeepers a break.

Chen Chun-chia
Beekeeper’s son
I came back to keep bees with my mom and dad. It’s been about nine years already. The harvest is up 20 or 30% at least.

Using 20 to 30 steel drums weighing 300kg as centrifuges, the honey is separated and collected at the bottom. But before they can harvest, the keepers have to spray smoke to drive the bees away.

Chen Ming-hsu
Beekeeper
They’re usually pretty fierce. You’re stealing their food, their food stores. So they’re going to respond.

The beekeepers say that although the flowers are blooming well this year, the trees are still facing insect infestations. But with over 30 years of experience, they’ve been able to survive the challenge and welcome spring.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #beekeeping #honey #honeyharvest #longan #spring #longanhoney #Tainan #agriculture

2025-04-21

Taiwan-US popstar panders to fans in China

2025-04-21