Xiaba crowns first 'Cherry King'

On April 26, cherry growers from eight villages gathered with their finest cherries to attend the first-ever "Cherry King" contest in Xiaba town, Wudang district, Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

Hundreds of visitors acted as judges for the day, evaluating the cherries based on their appearance, taste, and sweetness. In the end, Feng Tianwen from Guba village won the title of "Cherry King" with a lead of over 80 votes.

Standing on the podium, he said, "The key to growing good cherries is dedication. If you want big, flavorful cherries, you need to fertilize properly, ensure good ventilation and light for the trees and control their height."

Visitors taste and vote for the "Cherry King". [Photo/Guiyang news network]

In 2007, Xiaba town Party committee and local government encouraged villages to grow cherries based on their unique local conditions. They distributed saplings for free, offered hands-on training, and provided agricultural subsidies. Feng, deciding to give it a try, devoted 1 hectare of his land to cherry cultivation – and 18 years later, he's still going strong.

Today, Feng earns around 120,000 yuan a year just from cherries. He also travels between Wudang district and Kaiyang county, teaching other growers how to cultivate cherries.

The "Cherry King" contest not only crowned the best fruit but also highlighted the spirit of Xiaba's new-generation farmers and their fresh outlook on integrating agriculture with tourism.