The ninth "Zhenglu Pearl Red" Watermelon Cultural Tourism Festival will be held from April 17 to 18 in Zhenglu town, Shanghe county.

The "Zhenglu Pearl Red" watermelon has been planted in Zhenglu town since the 1990s and has become a representative high-quality fruit brand in Shanghe county, Jinan, Shandong province.

By March 2020, the town had a watermelon planting area of over 3,500 mu (233.33 hectare) with an annual output of more than 9.5 million kilograms, generating a revenue of 140 million yuan ($21.41 million). Watermelon planting has become a major characteristic industry to increase farmers' income.

The "Zhenglu Pearl Red" watermelon is a pollution-free agricultural product that is sweet and succulent and rich in proteinogenic amino acids and vitamin C. In 2012, it was awarded the certification trademark of National Geographic Indications. It is also among the top 10 popular agro-products in Jinan.

Zhenglu has held the watermelon cultural festival for eight years, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors.

A farmer shows watermelons at a planation in Zhenglu town, Shange county, Shandong province. [Photo provided to english.jinan.gov.cn]

The agricultural industrial park for planting "Zhenglu Pearl Red" watermelons in Zhenglu town, Shange county, Shandong province [Photo provided to english.jinan.gov.cn]