To welcome the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, a variety of activities have been held on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The "cake betting (also known as betting champion)" that originated in Xiamen, Fujian and other places has also spread to Taiwan via Kinmen, and has graduall

In order to welcome the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, both sides of the Taiwan Strait have held a variety of activities. The "cake betting (also known as betting champion)" that originated in Xiamen, Fujian and other places has also spread to Taiwan via Kinmen, and has gradually become a Mid-Autumn Festival entertainment item loved by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. This year, Taoyuan, Taichung, Chiayi, Kinmen and other places are holding "cake betting" activities to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. And combine with folk festivals to develop regional tourism culture.

The 2024 (20th) Cross-Strait Mid-Autumn Festival Cake Betting Number One Prize Competition hosted by the Straits Herald will be held on October 13. The finals will be held on October 13. The Taiwan Herald will lead the "top prizes" born from all over Taiwan to Xiamen to compete for the cross-strait competition. The throne of "the number one scholar among kings".

The prosperity of "Cross-Strait Gambling" will be reproduced

The Chinese Cake Betting Culture Association, established by the Taiwan Herald, has continued to promote Cake Betting activities on the island in recent years. Luzhu Nankan Wufu Temple in Taoyuan City held the 13th "Mid-Autumn Festival Cake Winner" event at Miaocheng Square on the evening of September 12. There were 120 tables and more than 1,200 people participating. The scene was quite lively. According to local folklore, the national hero Zheng Chenggong once stationed troops at the current site of Wufu Palace after he regained Taiwan. The soldiers in the camp brought Marshal Xuantan incense. Su Junbin, deputy mayor of Taoyuan City, said at the event that "cake betting" originated from Zheng Chenggong's attempt to ease the homesickness of officers and soldiers during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is not only a tradition of Nankan Wufu Palace, but also an intangible cultural asset. It is also an important event of the Taoyuan Minnan Cultural Festival. one.

Chen Zongxian, chairman of Wufu Temple, said that the Mid-Autumn Festival "cake betting" has a long history, and it has become an important activity to maintain close ties between neighbors in Luzhu District, Taoyuan. The top three "top picks" in local pie betting in previous years can go to Xiamen to participate in the "Cross-Strait Mid-Autumn Pie Betting Top Picks" competition. This year, Wufu Palace has also prepared rich prizes. The biggest prize is a 55-inch TV. I wish everyone "good luck and good luck!"

Kinmen also held the "Autumn Prize No. 1 Cake Finals" at Wujiang Academy on the evening of the 14th. According to Kinmen County The Government Tourism Office pointed out that this year the "ancient system" will be followed. The 538 table "top picks" who came from various townships and series of activities were divided into 50 tables to "fight" and went through three stages: "township examination", "conference examination" and "palace examination". In the end, Hong Jinzhan, a 68-year-old grandma from the Western Community of Lieyu Township, won the title of "No. 1 Scholar" and was awarded a 20-liter bottle of wine numbered 888 by Kinmen Winery Li Wenliang, deputy county magistrate of Kinmen.

It is understood that the top five in the Kinmen Finals will go to Xiamen to participate in the 20th "Cross-Strait Mid-Autumn Festival Pie Bet No. 1 King of the King" competition to compete for the cross-strait "No. 1 King of the King" throne. Li Wenliang said that the reappearance of the prosperity of "Cross-Strait Expo" this year is a concrete practice to promote the integration of cross-Strait culture and tourism, and he also looks forward to continuing to intensify the resumption of exchanges between the two "doors". Hong Jinzhan said he was very confident and expected all five Kinmen representatives to make a triumphant return.

"Cake betting" drives local economic development

"Cake betting" is not only a folk festival to celebrate reunions, but also a good way to drive local economic development and activate regional tourism culture. This year’s “cake gambling” related activities in Kinmen County have been launched since August 1, through the Wuxiang Town Cake Gambling Competition, the Airport Welcome Cake Gambling Experience, the General Military Department Cake Gambling Experience, the Costume Cosplay Photography Contest, and the Running Kinmen Cake Gambling Competition. A series of activities such as markets, through the joint efforts of tourism-related public associations and private industry, have made "cake gambling" the best highlight of marketing Kinmen tourism. Even Zhongzheng Primary School in Kinmen County recently combined the "cake betting" activity with reading promotion to allow students to learn local culture through having fun. Teachers prepared pillows, books, stationery, educational blocks, etc. as prizes, and students threw dice to compare their luck and feel the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Daya University Business District in Taichung City, in order to stimulate consumption and invigorate the shopping atmosphere of the business district, held the "2024 Daya Mid-Autumn Prize Cake and School Business District Marketing Event" in Daya Park on the evening of the 14th. It is understood that the Mid-Autumn Festival "cake betting" has been held in Daya University Business District for 10 years. This year, in order to revitalize the economy, we vigorously promote promotional activities in the business district. There is a "cake betting" competition, a "number one street show" and a "photo and click like" area, as well as small farmers and business district stores for sale. People are invited to wear "No. 1 Scholar hats", hold big dice, and hold up placards to take photos and share them together to promote economic development.

The Mid-Autumn Festival "cake betting" in Lucao Township, Chiayi County has been held grandly since 1998. It was suspended for 4 years due to the epidemic. It will return this year. On the morning of the 14th, there will be a competition between 8 large tables at the activity center of Lucao Elementary School, each table has 36 people. Not only does it attract local residents to bring their families, but tourists also come here to have fun together, and the atmosphere is even more lively than barbecue. Yan Peiyu, the mayor of Lucao Township, said that this event is suitable for all ages. In addition to "building feelings", the office also connected 51 businesses in Lucao Fenghua's characteristic cultural business district on that day, inviting the public to take the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Lucao Township's characteristic stores, Local consumption makes Lucao more and more fun, delicious and easy to visit, and continues to promote Lucao’s local “chill tourism”. Taiwan Herald reporter Lin Jingxian/Text and photo provided by Taiwan Herald