Announce Department：General Affairs Department
2011/4/18
Reported by journalist Li, C. C./from Kinnin
Kinmen government, Kinnin Township jointly hosted “Rocky oyster-Wheat Harvest Festival” for celebrating the centennial national anniversary. The event's prime activity “Thousand People Oyster Shelling” was held yesterday. More than 1, 000 people joined this spectacular oyster shelling of about 10,000 kgs. Participants then brought oysters back to Kuningtou to make delicious seafood cuisine. All participants did enjoy delicious oyster cuisine with much pleasure. Mayor Li, Township chief Cheng were so happy to see many visitors attending this activity and welcome everybody to join this activity again in the next year.
For preservation of this valuable tradition, the Township thus holds this spectacular “Thousand-People Oyster Shelling” activity”, the biggest scale in history. This activity started from 10 o'clock in yesterday morning. For avoiding raining, it started ½ hour earlier. The “oyster shelling” tables extended as long as 5 hundred meters along North Village Circle Road. Some participants are experienced aged oyster farmers. Most are tourists from everywhere in Taiwan. May parents brought children to attend this weekend activity. The goal for holding activity is offer people experiencing fishery life. Amazingly, more than enthusiastic people participated in this activity creating a spectacular achievement for local history.
Accompanied by government executives, including such as consultant Li, Construction bureau Cheng, Township legislation chairman Yang, and Vice Chairman, County Mayor Li arrived at the activity site wishing everybody enjoying with pleasure as much as possible. Mayor Li also joined oyster shelling to experience the fun and pleasure of shelling. Hundreds of passionate people greeted to Mayor at the scene.
Mayor Li and Chairman Cheng reminded everybody the sharp knives could cause injury possibly and wished everybody having pleasure as much as possible. All participants did enjoy oyster shelling and then brought their harvest back home for making delicious cuisine. Fresh oysters taste very delicious by any simple and quick cuisine processing.
Unluckily, it rained for a while during this activity. All the enthusiastic participants dressed raincoats making effort for oyster shelling outdoors. The participants in this year are much more than in last year. The Township supplied up to 1,000 tons for this activity.
Lots of tourists watched participants oyster shelling with curiosity. Some children also joined oyster shelling with curiosity experiencing the hardship of oyster breeders. Some literature and history editors recorded this historical spectacular event by photography. The participants included all aged groups, such as very young children and pretty aged people. All participants were all doing their best to oyster shelling as quickly as possible. Some can make oyster shelling and packing as skillfully as professional oyster breeders. Some inexperienced participants had difficulty shelling oysters but did enjoy the fun and thus realize the hardship of oyster shelling workers. Encouraged by parents, many children joined this activity but had difficulty shelling oysters well. Enthusiastic aged people instructed young people the critical skill for oyster shelling.
Mayor Li indicated that his trying to earn income by shelling oyster in childhood is unforgettable for life. He is very touched today seeing people enjoying oyster shelling. Oysters can be swallowed instantly. However, the production and processing of oysters involve oyster breeders and workers’ hardworking. “Each single oyster represents hardworking of oyster breeders and workers”.
Bureau Chief Cheng indicated that this 1,000 people oyster shelling event can help children realize the hardworking of oyster breeders. This is a very valuable experiential education. Children can thus have better understanding of natural resource preservation and environment protection. He wishes this activity can help promote the market awareness and popularity for this unique and “best-quality” rock oysters from Kuningtou.
Kuningtou has been well known for this delicious rock oyster. The history of rocky oyster breeding has already been more than 400 years. Millions of sticks hanging rock oysters standing vertically on beaches can be one of the most spectacular scenery in the globe. The tradition of oyster breeding and harvesting has already lasted for more than 400 years. This Township has thus become well known mostly due to this special delicious rock oyster. The county government will hold such an event annually to promote tourism and create perpetual economic benefits for local breeders.