Tourists participate in interactive activities during the 5th Shangchao Watermelon Cultural Tourism Festival. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

The 5th Shangchao Watermelon Cultural Tourism Festival was held on July 8 in Tianhe town's Rainbow Valley Scenic Area, Luocheng Mulam autonomous county, attracting more than 5,000 visitors.

The event also featured bands, dance performances, and traditional folk songs that showcased the local culture. Visitors not only enjoyed free watermelon tastings but also engaged in interactive activities such as drumming and bamboo ball games.

With abundant sunlight, Shangchao village cultivates a variety of fruits such as peaches, watermelons, and lemons. More than 200 households here have planted 600 mu (40 hectares) of watermelons, with an expected output of 900 metric tons this year.

During the event, specialty agricultural products such as glutinous corn, lemons, and rice cakes were also displayed and sold. This highlighted Tianhe town's diversified agricultural and cultural tourism resources.

Wu Zhonghe, Party secretary of Shangchao village, said that the watermelon festival has been held since 2019, with the number of visitors increasing from 500 to over 5,000. Moreover, it has attracted merchants from Jinchengjiang and Yizhou districts to make bulk purchases. More than 3,000 kilograms of watermelons were utilized during the event, with over 5,000 kg of watermelons sold.

In recent years, the Party Committee and the government of Tianhe town have been making efforts to guide residents in developing distinctive industries, promoting rural vitalization, and building a unique "fruit town" brand that combines agriculture, culture, and tourism.