A press conference for the eighth Pingyao Pear Blossom Tourism Festival is held in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, on March 19. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

Pingyao will hold its eighth pear blossom tourism festival in Xiangyuan town which is famous for its pear planting during April, according to a press conference in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, on March 19.

With a theme of rural development, this year's pear blossom tourism festival consists of 10 themed events in five categories including an industrial upgrading forum, investment negotiations, a farm produce event, and machinery fair.

Tourists will also be able to enjoy local art performances while viewing pear blossoms, picking pears and tasting specialty foods.

"Pingyao will further promote Xiangyuan town’s profile in pear production and related tourism as well as expand the local pear industry," said Liu Guangming, a top official of Pingyao, at the press conference.

"The local pear orchards will also be developed into sightseeing parks for locals and visitors," he added.

The pear blossom tourism festival is a key event for Xiangyuan town, where local orchards cover an area of 55,000 mu (3,666.67 hectares) –– 78.56 percent of local cultivated land. In December 2017, Pingyao crisp pear, a local pear brand, won recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture.