A child plays under some pear blossom trees in Hai'an, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The 10th Pear Blossom Festival was held in Dagong town, Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, on March 29. A number of people attended the opening ceremony of the festival, and a live broadcast was also available, allowing people to witness it from the comfort of their homes.

Dagong town boasts around 1,200 mu (80 hectares) of pear plantations and its annual pear output exceeds 5,000 metric tons. Some high-quality local pear brands have even won awards at international fairs and been honored with provincial titles.

During the festival, dishes made from pears proved popular among visitors. Wang Qiyan, chairman of Hai'an's painting and calligraphy academy, even created a painting themed around the pear blossoms, demonstrating the deep connection locals have with the pair.

Paper-cuttings made by Ben Daokuan, a local handicraftsman, also impressed visitors, as he used just one piece of paper to create two pieces of art that complimented each other perfectly.

The festival has been held in the county-level city every year since 2011 and has become part of the city's rural tourism brand. Tens of thousands of people come to admire the flowers and sightsee here every year.

"We will use this festival to further promote tourism in Dagong, attract more investment, and boost local development," said Liu Chengliang, secretary of the town's Party committee.