Cherry industry leads to rural vitalization in Shandong district

Cherry blossoms bloom in Chayekou town. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chayekou town in Laiwu district, Jinan, Shandong province has embarked on a quest to integrate the development of agriculture, culture, and tourism, with a focus on its cherry industry.

Cherries have been planted in the town for over 300 years, with over 330 households currently engaged in cherry cultivation spanning an area of more than 12,000 mu (8,000 hectares).

With its vast expanse of high-quality soil, favorable natural climate, and scientific management practices, the cherry varieties produced here are of exceptional quality.

"Our village is at a relatively high altitude, gets abundant sunlight, and experiences significant temperature differences between night and day, resulting in cherries that are bright red, thin-skinned, and juicy. By early May, consumers will be able to enjoy the sweet and tangy cherries," said Cui Aimin, Party secretary of Panjiaya village in Chayekou town.

In recent years, Chayekou town has been revitalizing its rural tourism industry by hosting the Cherry Culture Tourism Festival, leading to increased income for local residents. The town has also expanded into deep processing, producing specialty products such as cherry wine and cherry jam, effectively enhancing the added value of agricultural products. (Edited by Li Weiwei)