Beijing’s Shunyi district spreads sweet taste of cherries

Shunyi district, one of the main cherry producing areas in Beijing, has invested 72 million yuan ($10 million) in the past three years and established about a 1,000 acres (404.69 hectare) of cherry greenhouse facilities, forming a modern and efficient agricultural cluster and benefiting thousands of farmers. 

Currently, it is the season when cherries are just in the midst of harvest and ready for market. As the main cherry producing areas in Beijing, major cherry orchards in Shunyi are experiencing a hot picking season.

The number of tourists picking cherries in one of the major picking orchards can reach up to 400 or so per day during peak periods such as weekends. Due to the favorable weather condition, the cherry picking period may be extended to mid-June this year.

In order to promote the development of the cherry industry, Shunyi district has built a cherry industry belt along the five towns of Qianshan and key cherry production areas. In addition, the district has introduced more than 30 high-quality cherry varieties in recent years, and promoted over 10 advanced new achievements and technologies.

Shunyi's cherry has won the golden and first prize in cherry ratings both in Beijing and nationwide for many years, which aim to showcase the development achievements of China's cherry industry and promote the exchange and the product quality of cherry.

On May 22, the 9th International Cherry Conference, crowned as the "Olympic Games" of the world's cherry industry, was held in Shunyi district. 

According to the organizer, the first conference was held in Germany in 1984, and has since been held every four years. Eight conferences have been held in countries such as the United States, Chile, Spain and Japan.

Currently, the cherry planting area in Shunyi district has reached 7,500 acres, including 5,500 acres of fruiting area, with an annual output of over 1.5 million kilograms and an output value of over 60 million yuan. The average output value per acre of fruiting tree reached 10,000 yuan, with the highest output value per acre hitting 50,000 yuan, according to the local government.

Li Jiuren, a researcher at Shunyi Forestry and Parks Bureau, said the cherry industry has become one of the leading sectors in Shunyi fruit trees, and with the increasing enthusiasm of the local people for planting, the cherry planting area now ranks the third in the city. Currently, the average output value of cherries per acre in Beijing is 7,318 yuan, while the output value of cherries per acre in Shunyi has already exceeded 10,000 yuan.