Pingyao invites people to enjoy pear blossoms online

A grand landmark in the Ancient City of Pingyao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The annual Pingyao Pear Blossom Tourism Festival opened online on April 10, with more than 4,666 hectares of pear trees in full bloom in Pingyao county, located in North China's Shanxi province. 

A tourism photography and text competition, themed on the lovely local scenery and pear blossoms, and a live streaming promotion tour around the Ancient City of Pingyao, opened on the same day. 

Online influencers and tour guides are showing the whole world the major scenic spots, streets and alleys, as well as the urban and rural scenery in Pingyao through live broadcasts. Online tourism image ambassadors for Pingyao will be selected by the organizers of the festival. 

More than 4,666 hectares of pear trees are now in full bloom in Pingyao county. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

First launched in 2011, the annual festival has developed into a cultural and economic event that integrates e-commerce promotions, online live broadcasts and brand promotions. Also on offer are pear farming experiences during spring outings, flower appreciation and photography, among other things. 

Du Xiaoyu, deputy head of Pingyao county, said that amid the current novel coronavirus epidemic, Pingyao would invite people from around the world to further understand the county from a variety of perspectives, to help integrate local culture and tourism development through the event. 

Moving forwards, plans are for Pingyao to hold a series of online tourism activities to promote the closer integration of cultural heritage and tourism.