The third Guangxi Huanjiang Red Pomelo Festival got underway in Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county, Hechi on Sept 28, with a parallel session being held in Shenzhen's Futian district.

Media from across Guangxi gathered to cover the event which had this year invited more than 100 web celebrities to provide live webcasts from the festival.

An e-commerce sales platform has been set up to allow off-site visitors to purchase pomelos by the crate-full via network channels. Local singers and magicians also performed to the excitement of festival attendees.

The festival will run throughout the National Day holiday and last until Oct 8.

Web celebrities in national clothing display the Huanjiang red pomelo at the cultural square of Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county on Sept 28. [Photo/www.hcwang.cn]

The Huanjiang red pomelo was identified as China's geographical indication agro-product by the Ministry of Agriculture in August 2016. As one of the major poverty alleviation industries in Huanjiang, red pomelos have not only sweetened up the lives of locals but have also improved the local economy and living standards.

The planting area county wide has so far reached 60,000 mu (4,000 hectares), with an annual output of more than 80 million yuan ($12.02 million). The number is expected to surge to 1.2 billion yuan by 2020 through enlarged planting areas and brand promotion.

The Shenzhen parallel session of Guangxi Huanjiang Red Pomelo Festival is in full swing. [Photo/www.hcwang.cn]

Shenzhen residents purchase sweet Huanjiang red pomelos. [Photo/www.hcwang.cn]