Yanqing: Welcoming friends with grapes

A festive dance performance raised the curtain on the International Grape Exhibition Garden in Zhangshanying town, Yanqing county, 90 km north of downtown Beijing on July 25.

The garden, the largest one of its kind in China, is one of the venues of the upcoming World Grape conference, which will be held from July 29 to August 2.

A grapevine is weighed down by its own fruit at the International Grape Exhibition Garden in Beijing’s Yanqing county on July 25. [Photo by Liao Wei/China Daily]

Taking up an area of 200 hectares, the garden is home to a total of 1,014 species of grapes from more than 40 countries and regions, including Japan, the US, France, Hungary and Italy, said the organizing committee.

All kinds of breeding seeds of grapes on display in a greenhouse at the International Grape Exhibition Garden in Beijing’s Yanqing county on July 25. [Photo by Liao Wei/China Daily]

Zhao Kunyu, a volunteer at the Grape Science Museum in the International Grape Exhibition Garden, greets every tourist with a sweet smile. [Photo by Liao Wei/China Daily]

The garden boasts the most species of grapes in the world and it has the largest grape-picking park in Beijing.

In addition, visitors will get a rare opportunity to look at a 120-year-old grapevine, also the largest one in the garden.

There is also a tourist center, where visitors can rent a tandem bicycle to tour the whole garden, enjoying the fresh air and leisure time with friends or families.

The garden will open until the end of October.

Yanqing has a high altitude and ample sunshine, as well as a big temperature difference between day and night, which is best for growing grapes.

Transportation:

Take bus No 919 at Deshengmen station or the S2 line from Beijing North Railway Station to the terminal in Yanqing county and then take the shuttle bus to the garden.

Admission:

60 yuan ($9.7) for adults and 30 yuan for senior residents and those with a student card

Open:

8:00 am – 5:30 pm (July 25- October 31)