Waxberries, the crop of choice in Guiyang

By Yang Fan ( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2016-06-16

Ali villagers pick ripe waxberries in traditional clothing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ask a local in the village of Ali what they do for a living and they will likely tell you that farming is their forte. Located in Wudang District, famous for its plethora of hot springs, just eight kilometers from downtown Guiyang, such is the importance of plants in the village that farming accounts for 80 percent of land use.

Waxberries are the latest crop to come into fruition, typically around June, and both farmers and tourists alike have been busy harvesting the curiously-tart berries.

Since the village is free from industrial factories or conglomerate headquarters, the waxberry rules the roost. Of the 6.7 million square meters of growing land there, 4.67 million square meters are dedicated to the fruit.

To capitalize on the growing trend of fruit picking holidays in the province (Guizhou enjoys the reputation in China as the "garden province") villagers have begun diversifying their crops. Pears, strawberries, peaches and loquats are among the new additions, helping to draw in the crowds from April to November.

Just a stone's throw away from the provincial capital, the village is easily accessible compared to other, more remote, villages in the province. Ali was recently designated as a demonstration site of agricultural science and tourism by the government.

Ali village relies heavily on the success of its waxberry crops. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Edited by Jacob Hooson