Those looking for a sweet taste of the country can now take a dedicated bus to Caiyu -- the township designated by the government as the "home of Chinese grapes". Located in Daxing District of Beijing, Caiyu is a place where tourists can pick grapes, as well as plums, peaches, pears and apricots.

The town also produces country-style food, black porcelain, paper cuttings and calabash artworks.

Caiyu has 20,000 mu (1,333 hectares) of more than 100 varieties of grapes, with an annual production of 21 million kilograms. It is also cooperating with Xinjiang's Turpan in an effort to boost production.

With 55 villages and 320,000 residents, Caiyu has come to be known as the Turpan of Beijing, reference to the large grape production area of northwestern China.

Caiyu's climate and geography resemble those of Bordeaux in France, making the region well suited for the growth of sweet and tasty grapes. Some of the most popular varieties of grapes are Rose Fragrance, Huge Peak, and Stoneless Red Gem.

The town has held a grape festival in August each year since 2002. Visitors can tour corridors of grapes spanning kilometers, picking and tasting grapes from the vine along the way. They can also squeeze their own grape juice, and create miniature grape landscapes.

Wine-tasting parties are held in the evenings, with plenty of opportunities to try drops from the local Harvest brand. Local families open their kitchens and their homes for accommodation, providing guests with a taste of rural hospitality.

Caiyu Township Tourism Office: Daxing District. 010-8027-3611.

(China Daily via Beijing Weekend August 27, 2007)