Xinjiang folk songs:
Turpan grapes
Hami melon
Korla’s fragrant pears are the most delicious...
In China, there are many cities with very interesting names. Some are named after animals, some are named after flowers, and some are named after fruits.
Speaking of cities named after fruits, of course we have to talk about "Pear City".
"Pear City" is located in Korla City on the bank of the Peacock River. Because of its fragrant pears, Korla is known as the "Pear City". It is a city with a long history and unique culture.
Pear blossoms are in full bloom at Hetu Luoshu Square in the Swan River Scenic Area in Korla City, Xinjiang.
Photo by Wen Xinghua
According to historical records, some people began to plant fragrant pears in today's Korla during the Tang Dynasty. In the 1950s, Korla fragrant pears became famous and were named "Pear City" because of the fragrant pears. Although Korla has now developed into a modern city, but the name "Pear City" still retains its historical and regional characteristics.
Ripe Korla pears.
Photo by Ma Lijuan
to this day
"Korla Fragrant Pear" regional public brand value
From 9.888 billion yuan in 2018
Jumping to 17.128 billion yuan in 2023
Ranked first in the pear category for six consecutive years
So far, the Korla fragrant pear industry has become one of the models for the industrial development of fresh fruit products in Xinjiang.
Korla pear display.
Photo by Huang Wanli
Korla and "Korla Fragrant Pear"
"Wow, so juicy! It's my first time to eat such juicy pears," the tourist praised.
Where does the delicious food come from?
Tracing back to the origin, we should look at it from the perspective of "the right time and the right place".
Korla is located on the golden line of 30° north latitude, with more than 2,800 hours of sunshine per year and extremely water-permeable soil.
The environmental conditions are superior and there is abundant water supply all year round, so there is basically no need to use chemical fertilizers or pesticides to protect crops.
It is round and plump in appearance, with yellowish-reddish skin, fine and juicy texture, sweet and refreshing taste, and is rich in many nutrients, such as vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, etc.
Korla pear picking season.
Photo by Huang Wanli
The factor of "humanity" cannot be ignored either.
Over the years, fruit farmers have also adopted modern scientific and technological means in the planting process to improve quality and yield.
For example, artificial pollination is carried out during the spring flowering period; trees are pruned in the summer; and special methods are used in the autumn to promote fruit sweetness.
All this creates the unique taste and aroma of Korla pear.
Villagers pick Korla fragrant pears.
Photo by Huang Wanli
"Korla people attach great importance to the brand image of Korla fragrant pears. Over the years, they have devoted themselves day by day to the research of ecological planting technology in fragrant pear bases. Measures such as the promotion of integrated water and fertilizer technology and the continuous use of bio-organic fertilizers," "It seals the fragrance of fragrant pears," said Zhang Jiaojun, the person in charge of Korla City's Sayidong Horticulture Farm.
In order to "graft" such a delicacy in the world, people have made many efforts, including transplanting pear seedlings to Sichuan, Henan, Xinjiang, Shihezi, Altay and other places for cultivation, but all ended in failure.
Sometimes, even if the seedlings survive, the fruits are not nearly as delicious, thus strengthening the reputation of "Korla Fragrant Pear".
Korla fragrant pears hang all over the branches.
Photo by Huang Wanli
"More than 1,300 years old" Korla fragrant pears
When it comes to Korla fragrant pears, few people know about it, but do you know how long it has been associated with the city of Korla?
It is reported that this relationship with pear fragrance has existed for thousands of years.
The Jin Dynasty novel "Xijing Miscellanies" records:
"The Hanhai pear comes from the north of the Hanhai. It is cold-resistant and never withers."
The "Hanhai" in the book refers to the Tarim Basin
"Pear" refers to the Korla fragrant pear
This is also the earliest description of Korla fragrant pears in history books.
Korla fragrant pears are ripe.
Photo by Huang Wanli
"We have cultivated fragrant pears in Korla for more than 1,300 years. In the 1960s and 1970s, villagers transplanted fragrant pear seedlings to each other every spring. When the pear blossoms were in full bloom, the entire village, including the air, was filled with the fragrant fragrance of pear blossoms."
Professor Wu Zhonghua, who has been studying Korla fragrant pears for 30 years, is very familiar with the "past and present" of Korla fragrant pears. He has published four books on fragrant pears. In his books, about the historical evolution of Korla fragrant pears, A series of processes such as varieties, characteristics, and planting are all recorded in detail and accurately introduced.
This is a pear tree that is nearly a hundred years old and still bears abundant fruits.
Photo by Yao Qian
Professor Wu Zhonghua reviewed a large amount of information and analyzed biological genes and concluded that "more than 2,000 years ago, there was an 'intermarriage' between the Eastern pear and the Western pear, and then through grafting and cultivation, they continued to merge, thus forming a hybrid fragrant pear variety. This is the current Xinjiang pear (Korla fragrant pear)."
The "Fragrant Pear Girl" from Halayugong Township, Korla City.
Photo by Huang Wanli
The ambition of Korla fragrant pear
Things change, stars change, and cities change.
In the bustling generational changes, Korla Xiangli is like a young man who is constantly broadening his horizons and ambitious, releasing his creativity and action.
With the goal of extending the industry, Korla Fragrant Pear continues to strengthen itself.
According to data, Korla fragrant pears have expanded from 50,000 acres before 2000 to more than 400,000 acres today, with a yield of more than 300,000 tons. Fragrant pears have become a pillar industry for local rural revitalization and a "golden fruit" that increases the income of fruit farmers. "Fruit" is also a "popular" industry in Xinjiang's forest and fruit industry.
During the ripe season of fragrant pears, local villagers dance happily to welcome the ripe fragrant pears.
Photo by Yao Qian
"In 2008, five of us established a cooperative. At that time, we only planted more than 100 acres, and the yield was very low. Each household earned more than 3,000 yuan at the end of the year. After more than ten years of development, our cooperative has attracted more than 100 farmers, and the planting area has reached More than 3,000 acres." Liu Zhemin, who has 14 years of experience in running a fragrant pear cooperative, mentioned the development of the fragrant pear industry, and his words were filled with pride.
Korla fragrant pears are shipped from cold storage and sent to sales points in other provinces.
Photo by Liu Huanzhao
Based on the present, build strength for the future.
The area of fragrant pears in Bayinguoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang has reached 489,600 acres. The fragrant pear output in 2023 will be 404,000 tons. There are currently 135 large, medium and small fresh-keeping warehouses, and a cold chain transportation system has been established that is suitable for production levels and storage and fresh-keeping capabilities. .
At the opening ceremony of the Korla Fragrant Pear Cultural Tourism Festival and Pear Blossom Festival.
Photo by Huang Wanli
As a regional public brand, "Korla Fragrant Pear" is known as the "Queen of Pears" and "Prince of Fruits" because of its pleasing color, thin skin and fine flesh, which melts in the mouth.
As early as 1996, "Korla Fragrant Pear" was registered as the country's first certificate of origin trademark.
In October 2006, it was recognized as a "well-known trademark in China".
In 2020, "Korla Fragrant Pear" was selected into the first batch of Central European Geographical Indication Protection Lists, went abroad, and was gradually exported to more than 20 countries and regions including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The fragrant pears picked are green and red.
Photo by Ma Lijuan
Since 2022, Korla City has successively held the Korla Fragrant Pear National Brand Promotion Event to "Build the Brand and Return to the Original Taste" at agricultural product fairs in Nanchang and other places, established a multi-channel integrated brand operation model, and established product sales in 295 domestic cities. Direct sales outlets carry out unified publicity and management of external brands to let consumers know about authentic, green-cultivated Korla fragrant pears.
"Korla Fragrant Pear Sculpture" on the bank of the Swan River in Korla.
Photo by Wen Xinghua
It is understood that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Bazhou and Korla City will continue to consolidate their status as the main producing areas of fragrant pears, and strive to stabilize the pear planting area at around 550,000 acres by 2025, with a high-quality fruit rate of more than 85%, allowing development The dividends have benefited millions of farmers.
The fragrance of fragrant pears spreads all over the world, giving Korla new capabilities. Korla fragrant pears and Korla achieve mutual success and write a new chapter together.
Author: Tao Shuanke