“Yellow orange, red persimmon, purple water caltrop…even ruler’s position looks less enviable next to them all.” Reflected aptly in the line is the long-held reputation of Xixi persimmon which was once offered as tribute to Chinese emperors. Today, Xixi Wetland boasts over 7,000 persimmon trees and three different varieties. Every autumn, a persimmon festival will be celebrated here to satisfy the growing appetite for the mouth-watering fruit.

As the autumn is approaching, many people are turning their eyes to persimmon in Xixi Wetland.

Despite the ever-lasting scorching heat, persimmon trees in Xixi Wetland haven’t been particularly affected. Right now, the fruits are reaching their full size. The shape and color look like green apples. By the time they mature, the color will change to a kind of golden yellow.

“Persimmons are precious here. We take good care of them and will present the best of them during the autumn time. We will let everyone enjoy the revamped wetland.”

Persimmon ripens in late September when the touch of autumn breeze does the trick, conjuring up reddish fruits hanging on branch and therefore creating an incredible autumn vibes in Xixi.

To engage more people into the festival even before it officially starts, a popular activity called “I Have a Persimmon Tree in Xixi” which involves paying for the ownership of persimmon trees made a grand comeback on August 22. If you join it now, one month from now on, you will be able to reap your rewards of both sweet soft persimmon fruits and an exciting harvest trip.

“We have a few fun activities for the festival. The owner of persimmon trees in Xixi will be given a certificate along with a chance to strike the gong, praying for a good harvest. When they are ripe, you will be able to pick them with gears of all sizes and get your hands on the freshest fruits.”

This year’s Persimmon Festival will start in September with a range of entertaining options. For more information, please follow Xixi Wetland on its WeChat Official Accounts.