A tourist picks mulberries at an orchard in Yongli village, Zhangjiagang. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

In recent years, Yongli village in Zhangjiagang has combined fruit planting with tourism, forming a comprehensive industrial chain involving sightseeing, catering, shopping and entertainment.

The mulberry orchard at the local fruit production center has just entered the harvest season, attracting tourists with plump fruit and tempting fragrance.

“It is a great place for family tours,” said a visitor surnamed Zhu. “Picking a basket of mulberries costs only 50 yuan ($7). The fun we have is definitely beyond the price.”

Fan Hongqi, the owner of the orchard, said he bought 4,800 mulberry trees from Guangdong province in Jan 2019 and rents 2 hectares of land in Yongli village for mulberry planting.

Thanks to ecological planting techniques introduced by the center and the favorable natural environment, the mulberries are large and tasty. The plantation can produce 22,500 kilograms per hectare.

Farmers are currently busy with pruning to make the trees produce fruit in installments, ensuring tourists can pick mulberries all year round.

“In addition to the mulberry orchard, the fruit center is home to dozens of other fruits, including loquat, pear, grape, honey peach, watermelon, figs and tomato,” said Gu Chunciang, a spokesperson for the center.

“The loquats will be ready for picking in mid-May. Peach and pear are our signature products,” she said.

In 2019, the center produced about 154.5 tons of fruit, bringing in 930,000 yuan in sales. The village also improved the surrounding environment to provide a better travel experience for tourists.

According to Chen Yu, deputy director of the village Party committee, a number of entertainment facilities will be built this year to inject new momentum into the local tourism industry.