'Pear Capital' in Shanxi reaps sweet gains

As a spring breeze sweeps across the southern foothills of the Lyuliang Mountains in Xixian county, Shanxi province, tourists wander through a spectacular "snowy sea" of blooming pear and apple blossoms, immersing themselves in the unique poetic charm and development vitality of the Loess Plateau.

Xixian boasts a millennium-long history of winemaking and pear cultivation, and is home to the famed Buddhist temple, Xiaoxitian. Hailed as China's "Pear Capital", it is a major production area for Yulu fragrant pears, highly favored domestically and internationally for their large size, thin skin, and sweet, crispy taste.