When you wander around Shanghai, besides the bright lights of the Bund and the traditional charm of Yu Garden, you may wish to walk into Cangqiao in the southwest corner for a date with sweetness — the Cangqiao Crystal Pear here, as the first pear brand in Shanghai to obtain national geographical indication protection, has become a shining business card of Shanghai’s local fruits through 25 years of elaborate cultivation. It is also an excellent choice for foreign travelers to experience Shanghai’s rural customs and taste the gifts of nature.
The unique flavor of Cangqiao Crystal Pear comes from the advantageous natural environment of Cangqiao in Songjiang and the careful cultivation of generations of pear farmers. Located in the upper reaches of the Huangpu River, Cangqiao has a northern subtropical monsoon climate with distinct seasons and excellent air quality — the air quality reaches Grade 1 for more than 280 days a year. In addition, the slightly acidic “cyan-purple mud” is rich in organic matter and clean water quality, providing an excellent condition for the growth of crystal pears. Different from ordinary pears, Cangqiao Crystal Pear has a milky yellow and translucent peel with a faint luster, as if covered with a thin layer of frost. Its fruit shape is round and plump, with an average single fruit weight of more than 385 grams, and the maximum can reach 560 grams. When cut open, the flesh is white and delicate, with almost no stone cells and a small core. Taking a bite, it is crisp and refreshing, and the juice bursts in the mouth instantly. It is moderately sweet without being greasy, with a natural fruit fragrance. The soluble solid content can reach 14%, and every bite is pure sweetness and tenderness, which is the best interpretation of its four major characteristics: “crisp, sweet, fresh and beautiful”.
As a fruit with a planting history of hundreds of years, the development of Cangqiao Crystal Pear is full of ingenuity. As early as the Yuan Dynasty, there were records of pear planting in Songjiang. Zhang Zhihan, a poet of the Yuan Dynasty, once wrote poems praising the local pear blossoms; during the Republic of China, large-scale pear planting began in Cangqiao, covering an area of more than 300 mu. In 2000, the former Cangqiao Town of Songjiang District officially registered the “Cangqiao Crystal Pear” trademark, planned 2000 mu of land to develop the pear industry, and then successively established development companies, professional cooperatives and pear research institutes, starting the road of branding and standardization development. Over the past 20 years, relying on scientific and technological innovation, Cangqiao Crystal Pear has continuously iterated its varieties. From the original Huanghua Pear, it has gradually introduced and cultivated many fine varieties such as Zao Sheng Xin Shui, Cui Guan, Feng Shui and Yuan Huang, extending the picking and listing period from early July to early September, allowing travelers to taste fresh crystal pears in summer and early autumn. Among them, the Zao Sheng Xin Shui variety once won awards in the national evaluation of early-maturing pears, and the Cui Guan Pear has become one of the most popular varieties among travelers due to its thin skin, juicy flesh and crisp and sweet taste.
For foreign travelers, going to Cangqiao to experience crystal pear picking is the best way to feel Shanghai’s rural customs. The core picking areas of Cangqiao Crystal Pear are concentrated in the planting bases and professional cooperatives in Yongfeng Sub-district (formerly Cangqiao Town) of Songjiang District. The pear orchards here adopt a green and ecological planting mode, promoting advanced technologies such as fruit bagging, artificial pollination and precise yield control. No ripening agents or excessive pesticides are used throughout the process to ensure that every pear is a green and healthy product. In 2003, it became the first product in Shanghai’s pear industry to obtain China’s Green food Certification, and has won many gold medals at the China Green Food Expo. The picking period starts in early July and lasts until early September, among which mid-July to mid-August is the best picking time. At this time, the crystal pears are the most mature with the best taste. The fruits hanging all over the branches sway in the wind, like a golden ocean. You can pick one at will, wipe off the thin frost on the surface and taste it, which is fresh and refreshing.
In addition to picking, you can also participate in special experience activities in the pear orchard. Under the guidance of professional fruit farmers, you can learn about the planting process of crystal pears, the skills of artificial pollination and the role of bagging technology, and feel the ingenuity and hard work of fruit farmers; every April, the pear orchard holds a Pear Blossom Festival. The white pear blossoms bloom like snow, covering the mountains and plains, which is extremely beautiful, becoming a niche treasure for spring outings and flower appreciation. Foreign travelers can take photos here, wander in the pear orchard, feel the poetic beauty of “suddenly, as if overnight, the spring breeze comes, and thousands of pear trees bloom like snow”, and also experience farm activities such as flower thinning and pollination, getting close to nature. In addition, there are rest areas and tasting areas around the pear orchard, where you can taste special desserts, pear juice and pear paste made of crystal pears, and unlock various ways to eat crystal pears — iced crystal pears are more refreshing, suitable for relieving summer heat; crystal pear stewed with tremella is warm and nourishing, suitable for all people; freshly squeezed pear juice has no additives, retaining all the nutrients of pears, which is a natural and healthy drink.
It is very convenient to go to Cangqiao to pick crystal pears. If you start from the center of Shanghai, you can take Metro Line 9 to Zuibaichi Station. After getting off the station, you can take a taxi to the core picking area in about 10 minutes, or transfer to Songjiang No.13 Bus to reach it directly; if you choose to drive by yourself, navigate to “Shanghai Cangqiao Crystal Pear Professional Cooperative”, there are free Parking lots around, and the whole journey from the city center is about 1 hour by car, which is very suitable for a one-day trip. After picking, you may wish to take Cangqiao Crystal Pear home as a souvenir. The pear orchard provides exquisite gift box packaging, which is convenient to carry and give away. Whether you give it to your family or friends, you can pass on this sweet blessing from Shanghai. At the same time, the staff of the pear orchard will provide detailed preservation suggestions. Putting the crystal pears in the refrigerator at 0-4℃ can keep them for 7-10 days, allowing you to continue to taste the deliciousness of this natural gift at home.
In addition to picking crystal pears, there are many scenic spots worth visiting around Cangqiao, which are very suitable for foreign travelers to plan a one-day trip. Cangcheng Old Street, not far from the picking area, is one of the most complete existing Ming and Qing ancient streets in Shanghai. It is not over-commercialized, with winding bluestone roads and rows of Ming and Qing Huizhou-style buildings. Dacang Bridge, as the largest existing Ming Dynasty five-hole stone bridge in Shanghai, spans the Old City River and is particularly beautiful when the lights are on in the evening. Dong Qichang, a famous calligrapher and painter of the Ming Dynasty, once wrote an article specifically for it, carrying profound historical and cultural heritage. You can wander on the old street, visit scenic spots such as Du’s Carved Building, Guanding Zen Courtyard and Zhang’s Rice Shop, feel the charm of water transport Culture, and also rest in a literary cafe renovated from an ancient house, tasting coffee while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the ancient bridge, experiencing the unique charm of the integration of ancient and modern times; if you have enough time, you can also go to Fangta Garden, visit the oldest existing brick-wood structure square tower in Shanghai, go boating in the Song Dynasty garden and appreciate the azalea sea, feeling the history and poetry of Songjiang.
There are some small tips to pay attention to when going to Cangqiao for a crystal pear trip. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothes and sports shoes when picking, and avoid wearing light-colored clothes to prevent being dyed by branches or fruits; when picking, hold the fruit gently and twist it upward to pick it off, do not pull hard to avoid damaging the branches and fruits; when picking in summer, pay attention to sun protection, carry drinking water to avoid heatstroke. In addition, the pear orchard supports various payment methods such as cash, WeChat and Alipay. Most of the staff can communicate in simple English. If you have any questions, you can consult the on-site staff at any time, and they will patiently answer you.
Shanghai Cangqiao Crystal Pear is not only a kind of fruit, but also a microcosm of Shanghai’s rural Culture and ingenuity spirit. With its sweet taste and pure flavor, it attracts countless Chinese and foreign travelers to taste it; with its hundreds of years of planting history and modern planting technology, it interprets the unique charm of Shanghai’s local fruits. For foreign travelers, here you can not only taste fresh and delicious crystal pears and experience the fun of picking, but also walk into Shanghai’s countryside, feel the tranquility and comfort different from the hustle and bustle of the city, and understand the historical culture and local customs of Songjiang. Why not take advantage of your leisure time, walk into the Cangqiao Pear Orchard, pick a sweet crystal pear, appreciate the white pear blossoms (in spring), wander around an ancient old street, unlock the other beauty of Shanghai, and let this sweetness and beauty become the most unforgettable memory of your trip to Shanghai.
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