The third Jilin province strawberry festival, as well as the sixth Sheling strawberry and hot spring festival opened in Shuangyang district of Changchun, capital of Jilin province, on March 17.

Organizers of the events included Shuangyang people’s government, the Strawberry Association of Jilin Province and Shuangyang tourism department. The festivals are expected to last for two months and involve more than 10 separate activities, including strawberry exhibitions and sales, art exhibitions, and photography competitions.

Sheling in Shuangyang district started planting strawberries in 2010 and it currently has seven planting areas containing 310 greenhouses. The planting areas cover a total of 350,000 square meters.

Over the years, it has developed a name for itself thanks to the quality of its strawberries, and has integrated tourism, entertainment and other activities into strawberry planting and sales.

The district plans to further integrate local resources, improve infrastructure and promote its products, in order to help raise living standards and develop a rural tourism industry, said Zhu Junbao, deputy director of Shuangyang district.

The third Jilin province strawberry festival and the sixth Sheling strawberry and hot spring festival opens in Shuangyang district in Changchun, March 17. [Photo/people.com.cn]

Visitors taste strawberries during the festival in Shuangyang district, March 17. [Photo/people.com.cn]

Strawberries products on display at the festival in Shuangyang district, Changchun, March 17 [Photo/Xinhua]