Nestled in Beijing's agricultural heart, the China Watermelon Museum is a neon-lit tribute to everything watermelon, from its history to its quirky culture, all under one giant melon-shaped roof.
J8MF+F72, Jingkai Side Rd, Daxing District, Beijing, China, 102601 Get directions
"China produces 40 percent of the global watermelon crop, and plunking down with a big slice during the sweltering summer months is a quintessential Beijing experience. Located in the south of the city, Daxing District is a major agricultural center. Since 1988 the district has organized the Watermelon Festival, where one lucky farmer can be crowned the “King of Watermelons.” Festival-goers can learn about how the fruit is grown and, of course, eat their weight in fresh watermelon.When: Summer" - MATADOR_NETWORK
"The countryside just south of Beijing city proper is one of the heaviest watermelon producing regions in the world, so it makes a distant sort of sense that the Panggezhuang township government would choose this as the site for their hydrating homage to the citrellus lanatus. Founded in 2002,the China Watermelon Museum is 4,000 square meters of exhibits tracing the origins of the watermelon from its birthplace in southern Africa to its eventual ascent into, apparently, space. The futuristically modern museum is packed with wax watermelons, displaying the various varieties from around the world, surrounded by abundant neon lighting. The displays cover just about every aspect of watermelons from their history, to growing methods, to China’s “watermelon culture.” There are ancient Chinese poems on display that make reference to melons, and all sorts of informational signs and plaques. Even the building itself is emblazoned with a giant impressionistic watermelon over the front doors. And if you find the permanent fake melons a bit disingenuous, there is also an outdoor exhibition area where a number of actual watermelon varieties are growing. This museum is definitely about watermelons. Sadly, none of the exhibits here are subtitled in English, but your eyes will be so full of wax melons and bright neon, and your ears so occupied with the sweet strains of the instrumental Titanic soundtrack (on loop, naturally), that you’ll be hard pressed to notice the lack." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"The countryside just south of Beijing city proper is one of the heaviest watermelon producing regions in the world, so it makes a distant sort of sense that the Panggezhuang township government would choose this as the site for their hydrating homage to the citrellus lanatus. Founded in 2002,the China Watermelon Museum is 4,000 square meters of exhibits tracing the origins of the watermelon from its birthplace in southern Africa to its eventual ascent into, apparently, space. The futuristically modern museum is packed with wax watermelons, displaying the various varieties from around the world, surrounded by abundant neon lighting. The displays cover just about every aspect of watermelons from their history, to growing methods, to China’s “watermelon culture.” There are ancient Chinese poems on display that make reference to melons, and all sorts of informational signs and plaques. Even the building itself is emblazoned with a giant impressionistic watermelon over the front doors. And if you find the permanent fake melons a bit disingenuous, there is also an outdoor exhibition area where a number of actual watermelon varieties are growing. This museum is definitely about watermelons. Sadly, none of the exhibits here are subtitled in English, but your eyes will be so full of wax melons and bright neon, and your ears so occupied with the sweet strains of the instrumental Titanic soundtrack (on loop, naturally), that you’ll be hard pressed to notice the lack." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"The countryside just south of Beijing city proper is one of the heaviest watermelon producing regions in the world, so it makes a distant sort of sense that the Panggezhuang township government would choose this as the site for their hydrating homage to the citrellus lanatus. Founded in 2002,the China Watermelon Museum is 4,000 square meters of exhibits tracing the origins of the watermelon from its birthplace in southern Africa to its eventual ascent into, apparently, space. The futuristically modern museum is packed with wax watermelons, displaying the various varieties from around the world, surrounded by abundant neon lighting. The displays cover just about every aspect of watermelons from their history, to growing methods, to China’s “watermelon culture.” There are ancient Chinese poems on display that make reference to melons, and all sorts of informational signs and plaques. Even the building itself is emblazoned with a giant impressionistic watermelon over the front doors. And if you find the permanent fake melons a bit disingenuous, there is also an outdoor exhibition area where a number of actual watermelon varieties are growing. This museum is definitely about watermelons. Sadly, none of the exhibits here are subtitled in English, but your eyes will be so full of wax melons and bright neon, and your ears so occupied with the sweet strains of the instrumental Titanic soundtrack (on loop, naturally), that you’ll be hard pressed to notice the lack." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
J. M. Marcovecchio
Bobby Brannan
