Haidong Pears

Haidong Pears

　　　Dali pears are mainly grown in the Haidong Town area on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake, hence they are traditionally called Haidong Pears. The cultivation of pear trees in the Haidong region dates back over 1,000 years. As far back as during the Dali Kingdom and Nanzhao Kingdom periods, every year when the pears were ripe, local officials would select the finest pears to offer as tribute to the imperial court. Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, the eminent monk Baozhu traveled to Shanchan City (present-day Kunming) to preach, and brought Dali pear saplings to cultivate in the Chenggong area of Kunming. The locals loved them. To commemorate Monk Baozhu, the transplanted pears were named Baozhu Pears.

　　Therefore, the famous Baozhu Pears in the Kunming area today and Dali pears are of the same variety, sharing similar fruit shape, taste, and color. However, due to differences in climate and soil, Daidong Pears are sweeter and have a more delicate flesh than Baozhu Pears. The ripening season for Haidong Pears is from August to September each year. The fruits are round or oval-shaped, and after a period of storage, their skin changes from green to yellow, becoming crystal-clear. When fully ripe, the pears have thin skin, snow-white tender flesh, rich juice, and are sweet with no gritty residue when bitten. They are rich in nutrients such as malic acid, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B, and vitamin C, and are known to help relieve thirst, moisten the lungs, and soothe coughs. The eighth day of the eighth lunar month is the traditional Shoahui (Lake Play Festival) in Dali. On this day, people of all ethnic groups dressed in festive attire flock to Erhai Lake from all directions to row boats and enjoy themselves. Many even cross the lake to Haidong, where they sing, dance, have picnics under the pear trees, and savor the pears—a truly delightful scene. Today, Haidong Pears have seen significant development in both cultivation quantity and quality, with an average annual output exceeding 600,000 jin (about 300 metric tons), and a peak annual output of up to 1.5 million jin (about 750 metric tons). They have become an important pillar of the local economy in Haidong Town.