Qingdao welcomed the grand opening ceremony of the 2013 Shuiyu Cherry Fair on May 22. Covering an area of over 400 hectares, cherries growing in Shuiyu have long been renowned in the country for their fine quality and great taste. They can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Shuiyu, also known as the "First Cherry Valley" in Shandong province, has hosted cherry fairs for seven straight years and has become a popular ecotourism resort.

With sufficient rainfall and sunlight this spring, the cherries this year are expected to match the amount of last year. Even more, they are expected to grow larger and taste better. The cherries will appear on the market this week, with about 20 days in the picking cycle.

Edited by Michael Thai, Li Xiaoliang and Gao Yuan