Pinghu City, Zhejiang Province, east China - Sept 20, 2025 (Pinghu Media Center - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of trees, river, buildings; visitors walking
2. Various of people wearing traditional ethnic attires carving patterns on watermelons
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zheng Miao, contestant of watermelon lantern carving contest:
"We are members of the Qiang ethnic minority group from Maoxian County. I carved the azalea patterns from my cloth on this watermelon."
4. Various of watermelon lantern carving competition in progress, contestants
5. Various of watermelon lanterns on display
6. Various of watermelon lantern carving contest in progress, contestants
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lu Peixiu, contestant of watermelon lantern carving contest (ending with shot 8):
"Pinghu watermelons are famous, and grand events including the watermelon carving contest are held every year. We're glad to take part."
8. Various of watermelon lantern carving competition in progress, contestants
9. Aerial shot of trees, river, buildings
10. Various of visitors experiencing watermelon lantern carving
11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Youcheng, visitor (ending with shot 12-13):
"I am a visitor from outside Pinghu City. I've come to experience this famous watermelon-themed event. I had never encountered such a traditional folk custom before. To see such a tradition thrive in the city is really impressive. The event is well organized and allows many people to participate."
12. Aerial shot of trees, river, buildings
13. Visitors
14. Aerial shot of contestant of watermelon lantern carving contest
15. Various of watermelon lantern carving contest in progress, contestants, visitors
16. Various of people releasing watermelon lanterns, people making wishes; watermelon lanterns on water

A traditional folk custom-themed watermelon lantern carving contest kicked off in Pinghu City, east China's Zhejiang Province on Saturday, drawing enthusiastic participants to showcase their creativity.

More than 180 contestants from across the country gathered in the city's Nanhetou Historical and Cultural Street, a scenic area featuring bridges on flowing water and white walls decorated with black tiles.

Wearing traditional ethnic attires, contestants of the Qiang ethnic minority group from Maoxian County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, brought distinctive designs.

"We are members of the Qiang ethnic minority group from Maoxian County. I carved the azalea patterns from my cloth on this watermelon," said Zheng Miao, a contestant.

With just a pen and a knife, the contestants can turn ordinary watermelons into extraordinary lanterns. The art blending carving, calligraphy and painting has been passed down in Pinghu, also known as the "hometown of watermelons," for more than 300 years.

"Pinghu watermelons are famous, and grand events including the watermelon carving contest are held every year. We're glad to take part," said Lu Peixiu, a local contestant.

Each year, the contest would showcase the creativity of participants through the patterns on the watermelon's surface they design. Saturday's event saw patterns ranging from traditional Chinese motifs of flowers, birds to Chinese animation characters, Chinese Opera masks and even depictions of national events including the military parade held on Sept 3 for V-Day commemorations.

Moreover, an experience zone for visitors was also set up, with inheritor of the traditional watermelon lantern craft offering on-site guidance.

"I am a visitor from outside Pinghu City. I've come to experience this famous watermelon-themed event. I had never encountered such a traditional folk custom before. To see such a tradition thrive in the city is really impressive. The event is well organized and allows many people to participate," said visitor Zhang Youcheng from Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province.

After more than two hours of carving, over 30 winning works were selected for awards.

As night fell, residents and visitors released the watermelon lanterns onto the lake while making their wishes.