Culture and tourism festival for town with 'world's oldest pear orchard'

An aerial view of the Shenchuan town, smattered with blooming pear flowers. [Photo/Xinhua]

A festival promoting tourism and the culture of Shenchuan town in Gaolan county, Gansu province took place on April 8, the Lanzhou Morning Post reported.

Visitors to the festival got the chance to experience some of the unique aspects of the town as well as take part in some activities including pear orchard calligraphy, painting and photo exhibitions, reading, boating and a tourism development forum.

Located 20 kilometers northeast of Lanzhou city, Shenchuan town is most famous for its pear orchards. Covering hundreds of hectares, Shenchuan's pear orchards were honored as the "world's oldest pear orchard" by Guinness World Records in 2013. There is even a pear tree which is more than 400 years old.

Apart from the pear trees and pear blossoms, the landscape of the town maintains a unique aura as craggy gorges stretch along the Yellow River which flows through the town.

The majority of Shenchuan tourism revenue comes via its pear products. In 2013 the town agreed on mutual favorable economic cooperation with the county of Cornwall in the UK, striving to develop agricultural and pear eco-tourism.

Edited by Owen Fishwick