Pinggu, a suburban district about 70 kilometers northeast of Beijing, has long been a famous destination for peach harvesting. The annual International Peach Flower and Fireworks Festival, the Peach Picking Festival in August and many other tourism activities surrounding the succulent fruit have made the remote district known throughout China, and increasingly around the world.

The local government is now making efforts to promote another festival among tourists. The Pinggu Apricot Picking Festival opened on June 25 and will last 23 days until July 17.

According to sources from the Pinggu local government, this year's apricot festival was 10 days later than the past three years thanks to the cool spring weather in Beijing.

Beizhai Village is the main apricot-planting base in Pinggu. Every year the apricot output here reaches 600,000 tons from the 700 hectares of apricot fields in the village. The village has been harvesting apricots for hundreds of years. The oldest apricot tree in Beizhai is about 100 years old, according to local villagers. Last year apricots from the old tree amounted to 170 kilograms and the tree was crowned with the title "King Apricot Tree" by the local people. Many people also have their picture taken below the old tree.

To offer convenient transportation for people to reach the apricot fields, an 8-kilometer road was constructed in the countryside. And four parking lots are available, accommodating up to 600 cars.

A 26,000-square-meter lake was created near the apricot fields as an added attraction.

Local farmers in the area offer accommodations for visitors. A farm house is relatively cheap and usually costs about 30 yuan (US$3.50) for a standard room. Some of the farm houses even include a local meal with the room rate.

There is no fee to enter the orchards, but of course visitors are expected to pay for the apricots they pick. Usually the price ranges from 3 yuan (36 US cents) to 15 yuan (US$2) per jin (500 grams).

You can reach Beizhai village one of three ways:

Drive along Jingshun (Beijing-Shunyi) Road from Sanyuanqiao (Sanyuan Overpass) on the north Third Ring Road or Siyuanqiao (Siyuanqiao Overpass) on the North Fourth Ring Road. At the Kuliushu Roundabout, turn right to go along Shunping Road to the town of Pinggu.

You can also drive along the Beijing Airport Highway to the northwest part of the airport and then go forward along Shunping (Shunyi-Pinggu) Road to the town of Pinggu.

The third route is to go along the North Sixth Ring Road to avoid traffic on Jingshun Road to the Nanfaxin Exit. Then go along Shunping Road to the town of Pinggu. After reaching Pinggu, drive along Pingji Road to Xiayu Lukou and then turn left. Go forward to Yuzishan Cross and turn right. Continue driving to Dulezhen Beizhai Village Cross, then turn left.

Tel: 86-10-60966420 (Chinese only).

(China Daily June 27, 2005)