Foreigners in Chongqing participated in a grand cherry festival on April 14 and got a glimpse of the vibrant rural revitalization in Southwest China.

The 16th Chongqing Tongliang Shuangshan Cherry Festival was an event of "Foreigners@Chongqing: Foreigners in Chongqing to Visit Tongliang".

Foreigners in Chongqing visit the Shuangshan Cherry Festival in Tongliang. （Photo/Chen Yunyuan）

At the opening ceremony, foreigners from Ukraine, the Philippines, and Trinidad and Tobago performed with Tongliang dragon dancers, presenting an excellent cultural exchange performance between China and foreign countries. "This is my second visit to Chongqing. I like this place very much. I am honored to participate in the Foreigner@Chongqing in Shuangshan and have cultural exchanges with local people. As a tourist, I think the cherries here are delicious, and this place is exciting." Leo from Trinidad and Tobago, South America, was one of the foreign friends attending the Shuangshan Cherry Festival. He said in fluent Mandarin that he liked the charming place very much and would return someday.

Foreigners from Ukraine, the Philippines, and Trinidad and Tobago performed with Tongliang dragon dancers. (Photo/Chen Yunyuan)

The most beautiful days are in April, with blossoms and sweet cherries. Shuangshan Town of Tongliang District is the most extensive cherry planting base in Chongqing, with an area of more than 400 hectares. Its core production area sits on Xianyin Mountain in Jianxin Village, with 68 high-standard multi-span cherry greenhouses. There are early-, mid-, and late-ripening cherry varieties, with an output of 600,000 kg. Every year, Shuangshan Town welcomes many visitors to pick and taste cherries, which everyone profoundly loves. Since 2007, the town has held 15 cherry festivals consecutively.

Group photo of foreigners and hospitable villagers. (Photo/Chen Yunyuan)

"The cherries in Shuangshan are good. Every year, I invite my relatives and friends to buy cherries and local products — 'killing two birds with one stone.'" Gu Xianqun, a resident, bought chicken from the villagers at the event. She said happily that Shuangshan is worth visiting because there are delicious food, entertainment programs, and beautiful landscapes. During this year's Shuangshan Cherry Festival, residents and tourists can pick cherries and visit Xianyin Temple, Zhangjiagou Reservoir, and Zhangyin Mountain. Besides, rural delicacies are worth trying, such as Xianyin vegetarian meals, outdoor barbecue and hot pot, and homemade meals by rural people. Visitors can purchase ornamental fish, chickens, native eggs, high-quality rice, natural honey, and other local products. A beautiful, harmonious new village is waiting for tourists.