Chongqing- Tongnan District is to officially launch their 5th International Lemon Festival on October 21, where the industry will showcase the achievements of rural revitalization and high-quality regional development, as industry experts deliver speeches on the whole production chain while the promotion 'A Weekend in Tongnan' is set to attract lovers of rural tourism in their droves.
During a press conference held in advance, district leader Li Chengqun introduced the key features of this 5th edition involving rural revitalization, business negotiations, industry alliances, technological advances, and tourism activities.
Covering an area of 1583 square kilometers in the northwest of Chongqing, Tongnan District has a population of nearly one million people. The topography is a level geographical basin crisscrossed by the Fu and Qiong rivers, where the mild climate is blessed with abundant rainfall and sufficient sunshine.
The upcoming International Lemon Festival brings the world together and builds rural dreams through lemon cultivation. Following careful preparation, the opening ceremony will take place at the Lemon Seedling and Breeding Center inside the National Modern Agricultural Industrial Park, Baizi Town, on October 21.
Lemon-producing districts and counties within the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle will jointly release the declaration statement for a new industry alliance, while a signing ceremony will be held for investment promotion in the global lemon supply chain and key projects involved in rural revitalization.
Tongnan District has ambitious plans to increase its lemon plantation area to 1000 square kilometers with an annual output of 2 million tons. (Photo/ Tongnan District Publicity Department)
The 2021 Chongqing Talent Conference and Lemon Industry High-Quality Development Summit will take place during the festival. Leaders and experts will deliver keynote speeches on the development of the lemon industry worldwide and related fields such as processing, nutrition, big health, and sales channels.
In addition, Tongnan District People's government and Southwest University will hold a launch ceremony to construct a pioneering national zone to modernize agricultural science and technology.
A series of special activities are also held under the banner of 'A Weekend in Tongnan.' Headline features include the "Hello Tongnan!" marketing activity for agricultural products held on and offline, the 7th Tongnan Grapefruit Picking Festival, a harvest, and festival, and the 2021 Fujiang half marathon.
The lemon industry embraces technological advances.
The opening ceremony will feature the Alliance Declaration for International Lemon Producing Areas of the Chengdu Chongqing Economic Circle. The signing and release of this declaration aim to promote the joint construction and sharing of resources through standardized bases, high-intensity processing, cooperation in scientific research, market building, quality management, brand promotion, and cultural interaction.
The declaration will promote the lemon industry's coordinated development and shared prosperity in neighboring regions and accelerate the construction of lemon-producing areas with international influence.
A wide variety of lemon-derived products such as beverages, food, cosmetics, and health products will be on display over the festival, while a series of new lemon-based health products such as molecular pectin, bitter elements, and essential oils will be launched.
Industry experts have been invited to Tongnan to share their knowledge and experience as the district looks to drive high-quality development and rural revitalization throughout the industrial chain. (Photo/ Tongnan District Publicity Department)
Invitations have been extended to prominent domestic experts set to hold the Chongqing Talent Conference - Lemon Industry High-Quality Development Summit, which aims to raise the level of knowledge on the value of lemons and make an important contribution towards satisfying the need for the high-quality living among the people.
The international Lemon Festival will usher in the new era 'Lemon Index 3.0 System' to integrate data on accumulated downstream sales, real-time prices among 29 regions in China, a new expert database for planting, information screening, and regular industrial reports, which have been brought together for the big data intelligence and to empower modern agriculture, as science and technology plays an ever-greater role in the lemon industry.
New demonstration village to attract rural tourism
A wide variety of entertaining activities have been organized, such as on-site experiences, talent exchange, music festivals, photography, and a marathon event.
The 2021 Chongqing Tongnan Fujiang half marathon has become a big name event on the sports tourism calendar and will be held for the fourth time on November 21. The number of participants this year has been increased to 10000, including 6000 runners in the half marathon and 4000 in the mini-marathon.
Holding the yearly marathon has become a platform to showcase the achievements of socio-economic development and urban construction and heighten the popularity and influence of the district continually.
Meanwhile, the Investment Promotion Signing Event for the Global Lemon Supply Chain and Key Rural Revitalization Projects will be held, as major players in the lemon industry home and abroad hold negotiations and sign contracts to a backdrop of rich business opportunities.
The municipal demonstration village for rural revitalization will be officially unveiled during the festival when tourists will be able to visit the old workshops, experience intangible cultural heritage, and relive times of old amid an atmosphere of ever warmer rural flavors.