On August 26, 2017, the "Vanke & China Development Bank New Town 'Pear Enjoyment Music & Harvest Festival'" jointly organized by Beijing Vanke and China Development Bank New Town was grandly inaugurated at the Dongshan Tribute Pear Garden in Junzhuang Town, Mentougou. During the festival, Vanke also led the inaugural forum on the development of the Jingbai pear industry at its place of origin, as well as a forum on agricultural supply-side reform and the integration of the three industries. With green mountains and clear waters adding new vibrancy, and development discussed during the harvest event, both the activities and forums fully demonstrated Vanke’s commitment to benefiting agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, as well as its sincere dedication to developing quality industries.
The Hometown of Jingbai Pear, Industry Upgraded Again
Agricultural industry issues are strategic concerns vital to national livelihood. The 2017 Central No. 1 Document identified deepening agricultural supply-side structural reform as the main focus of rural and agricultural work in the new historical phase, and emphasized the need to revitalize collective construction land and build rural complexes.
As an active responder to the Central No. 1 Document, Beijing Vanke aims to promote new urbanization and focuses on developing distinctive small towns. It is committed to cultivating special industries such as technology parks, innovation and entrepreneurship, cultural tourism, and medical-care education. As its first exploration into agricultural development and rural development, the forum on agricultural supply-side reform and the integration of the three industries invited experts from national think tanks, academic institutions, and regulatory authorities, as well as professionals from pioneering domestic and international organizations in the fields of rural complexes and integrated agricultural development. Discussions ranged from interpreting central policies to sharing practical case experiences. Centered around the specific conditions and context of the comprehensive development of the Jingbai pear origin in Junzhuang Town, Mentougou District, the forum gathered experts from various fields to explore together. The specialized knowledge from these disciplines was synthesized into guidelines for the development of the hilly area around the Jingbai pear origin in Junzhuang. The goal is to further advance the Junzhuang project as a benchmark for agricultural supply-side structural reform across Beijing, and even nationwide, through an international perspective.
Signing Ceremony At the Jingbai pear industry development forum, Vanke joined forces with the Beijing Academy of Forestry and Pomology Sciences, adhering to a strategy of sustainable development while implementing the requirements of the scientific development concept, to assist the town of Junzhuang, the origin of Jingbai pears, in achieving industrial upgrading. “The three major goals are to restore the quality, build the brand, and benefit agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. In the future, as strategic partners, we will jointly pioneer broader markets in the agricultural sector with advanced concepts and models.”
Golden Autumn Pear Fragrance, Tribute Fruit in Every Home
When it comes to the Jingbai pear, its illustrious reputation has been widely known since the late Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that in the late years of Emperor Qianlong’s reign during the Qing Dynasty, Heshen encountered a pear vendor on Fragrant Hill. The pears were sweet, tender, crisp, and juicy—“delicious, refreshing, and fragrant to the core.” Heshen was immensely pleased and presented them to the Emperor. The following year, the Emperor specifically requested this type of pear, but in much larger quantities. After two years of searching, they were finally found in Xishan, present-day Junzhuang. Hence the name of the village. Since then, the pears of the village have been known as tribute pears. Some of the best specimens were also kept and cultivated. Later, villagers offered these pears to the Emperor every year. Over time, the tribute pears came to be known as Jingbai pears, and some of the best trees can still be found today. Now, there are over 100 old pear trees in the village that are more than 200 years old.
Centuries have passed, yet the Jingbai pear remains exceptional in quality and uniquely flavorful. What has changed is that it has stepped out of the imperial court to become a common favorite in people's fruit baskets. At the 1954 Beijing Pear Variety Competition, it won the award for the best product and was officially prefixed with “Jing” (京), meaning “capital,” hence known as “Jingbai pear.” In 2012, the Jingbai pears of Junzhuang Town received geographical indication certification from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, becoming a renowned, high-quality variety representing Beijing. Once honored by royalty, now bearing the “Jing” title, the Jingbai pear has become a symbol of Beijing, earning Junzhuang Town in Mentougou the iconic status of a tourism destination in western Beijing.
Scenic Western Beijing, Junzhuang’s Finest Pear Enjoyment
With rolling green hills and meandering clear waters, Mentougou’s Junzhuang Town—the hometown of the Jingbai pear—boasts a uniquely beautiful environment. Adjacent to the western foothills of Fragrant Hill and surrounded by mountains on three sides, the area resembles a small basin. Truly, the local environment shapes the local produce. The climate, water quality, and soil of Junzhuang Town seem tailor-made for the Jingbai pear. It is said that the same variety of Jingbai pear grown elsewhere, even just a few kilometers away from Junzhuang, will taste and feel noticeably inferior. Perhaps this is the very reason for the pear’s preciousness and the unique charm of the “hometown of tribute pears.”
This is a magical land, far from the hustle and bustle, with fresh air and natural scenery that city dwellers yearn for all year round. “In spring, pear blossoms bloom; in summer, fruits hang heavy on the branches; in autumn, the hills are ablaze with red leaves; in winter, snow blankets the land.” During the 2017 Pear Enjoyment Music & Harvest Festival, the tribute pear garden welcomed visitors from all directions with its centuries-old charm and music full of contemporary flair.
Do Not Say Autumn Is Late, for Scenery Blooms Anew
Spring blossoms and autumn fruits come in their own time. After an autumn filled with the fragrance of fruit, the beauty of Junzhuang Town changes with the seasons, quietly showcasing its diverse allure.
The 2017 Pear Enjoyment Music & Harvest Festival will soon draw to a close on September 24, but next year’s tribute pear garden will welcome a whole new splendid scene, and the festival will meet the public once again. Moreover, the expertise shared at the Jingbai pear industry forum has culminated in a consensus to guide the development of the hilly region around the Jingbai pear origin in Junzhuang. With an international vision, Vanke will advance the integration of industry and city in the Jingbai pear-themed town, further propelling the Junzhuang project to become a benchmark for agricultural supply-side structural reform across Beijing, and even the whole country.
