Dali Pears

Dali Pears

　　Dali pears are mainly grown in the Haidong Township area on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake, hence they are traditionally called Haidong pears. The cultivation of pear trees in the Haidong region has a history of over 1,000 years. As far back as during the Dali Kingdom and Nanzhao Kingdom periods, every year when the pears ripened, local officials would select the finest pears as tribute fruits to present to the imperial court. Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, the eminent monk Baozhu traveled to Shanchan City (now Kunming) to preach and brought Dali pear saplings to cultivate in the Chenggong area of Kunming. The locals greatly enjoyed them. To commemorate Monk Baozhu, the introduced pears were called Baozhu pears. Therefore, the famous Baozhu pears of today's Kunming area and Dali pears are of the same variety, sharing similar fruit shape, taste, and color, though Dali pears are slightly sweeter and have more tender flesh due to differences in climate and soil.

Every August and September is the ripening season for Haidong pears. The fruits are round or oval in shape, and after some storage time, their green skin turns yellow and becomes translucent and shiny. Ripe Haidong pears have thin skins, snow-white and tender flesh, abundant juice, and a sweet taste, leaving no residue when eaten. They are rich in malic acid, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B, vitamin C, and other nutrients; they help quench thirst, moisten the lungs, and relieve coughing. The eighth day of the eighth lunar month is the traditional “Playing by the Sea” festival among the people of Dali. On this day, people of all ethnic groups dressed in festive attire flock from all directions to Erhai Lake to go boating and sightseeing. Many even cross the lake to Haidong, where they sing, dance, have picnics, and enjoy the pears under the pear trees — a delightful scene. Today, the cultivation quantity and quality of Haidong pears have seen significant improvement, with an average annual yield of over 600,000 kilograms and a peak annual output of up to 1.5 million kilograms. It has become an important economic pillar industry for Haidong Township.