The earliest record of watermelon lanterns in China comes from the Ming Dynasty, and the translation results of related documents are as follows:

During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, Pinghu watermelon was listed as a royal tribute because of its sweet juice, refreshing taste and no residue, among which Pinghu Hongniyan (now belonging to Dailin Town) was the best "three white melons" in Daijiabang. Its melon skin is white, its flesh is white, its seeds are white and its skin is thin. During the apocalypse of Ming Dynasty, it was the dominant variety of watermelon in Pinghu. In the early years of the Republic of China, the "Maling Melon" produced in Pinghu was sweet and fresh, with sufficient water and soft skin. For more than half a century, it has sold well in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macao and Southeast Asian countries.