Most foreigners never get to see the 'real China ', and by that I mean getting to see how the Chinese live and work day-to-day in either cities or the countryside. A visit to a village and pear orchard near the City of Laiyang on Saturday, April 22nd, afforded a group of Canadian teachers working in Yantai just such an opportunity.
The trip was expertly organised by Mr. Jimmy Hu, owner of Yantai Seaview International Travel Service Co.,Ltd in Yantai, who designed a well planned itinerary. I was fortunate to be among that group, and the experience gave me the opportunity to witness first-hand some of the amazing changes, especially in agriculture, which have occurred in China over the past several decades. What I particularly liked about this trip was the relaxed atmosphere in which it was conducted. The credit for this must go to Jimmy Hu of Yantai Seaview International Travel Service Co.,Ltd. Because of his experience and skill, even the smallest detail is not overlooked when it comes to traveling and tourism.
Laiyang has always been famous for its pears. Its history and culture intrinsically revolve around the seasonal cultivation, growth, and harvesting of pears. In the particular orchard we visited, there were several trees, known as the "King-Trees", which are approximately four hundred years old. I thought about those farmers, who planted the seeds of those trees in the 1600s at a time when Canada as a country did not exist, and how today those trees are still yielding fruit.
Today, ancestors of those farmers, continue to live off the land in ways that their forebears could hardly imagine. We saw scores of peasant women manually pollinating the pink and white flowers of hundreds of pear trees with hand held devices. I could see for myself that these and other modern-day cultivation-methods have insured abundant harvests, which in turn have brought prosperity and growth to the lives of local farmers.
From a large platform-tower built at one side of the orchard, I saw pear trees as far as the eye could see. The entire orchard was bathed in an ocean of pink and white blossoms. What was truly exciting for me was to be among so many Chinese sightseers, who had also come to visit the pear orchard, because the Chinese are always in a contagiously festive mood on such occasions. I felt it was a great honour to be among them. And true to form, the Chinese in turn were delighted to see a contingent of foreign tourists enjoying themselves. 
At the entrance to the tower, several elderly women sold hand-made handicrafts. These handicrafts, an essential part of local customs and culture, consisted of traditional armrests, stuffed tigers, pendants, and other items. They were in sharp contrast to machine-made souvenirs. I thoroughly enjoyed bargaining with these delightfully charming elderly women, and was able to purchase several traditional armrests at a reasonable price. I feel these handicrafts are important, not only because they will always remind me of this marvelous visit, but because they represent a dying art in modern-day China . In the future, perhaps they will not be so readily available for tourists to purchase.
Following our visit to the pear orchard, we were invited to have lunch at the home of a village farmer. I was excited as we made our way from the pear orchard to the nearby village, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come.
We were greeted by our host at the door of his traditional family home, who then escorted us to an enclosed inner courtyard, where tables had been laid out with plates of sliced pickled cucumbers, ginger, and garlic. These delicacies, which I found exotically mouth-watering, were served with tea and other beverages.
What followed these tasty appetizers was an incredible cornucopia of local dishes, all representative of the nutritious and enjoyable Shandong cooking-style, cheerfully served by our warm and friendly host. Family members and friends merrily pitched in as plate after delicious plate was delivered to our table. Our dishes were always full and our cups constantly filled. This I thought was an amazing example of the hospitality for which the Chinese in general and the Shandonese in particular are famous. By the end of the meal, we had eaten a fair share of so much delectable food that it seemed as though we all were bursting at the seams.
It was an amazing lunch, I felt, because it showed me how much such experiences can foster goodwill and concord among peoples. Our visit had come to an end, and as our host, his family and friends shook our hands and bid us farewell, I felt as though I was saying goodbye to old friends. As we made our way to the highway leading back to Yantai, the words of an old Chinese saying came to mind: ˇ°Tian xia yijia qin ¨C Under heaven we are all one familyˇ±
-------Ted Margrett |
Today, I have enjoyed a trip to experience a farmer's daily life. We visited Laiyang, a place situated in the middle of Shandong Peninsula , which is well-known for its top-grade pear. The tradition of cultivating pears in Laiyang had an approximately four-hundred-year history. When visiting the local people of Laiyang, we can personally share the feeling farmers have at pear-growing season, and the pleasure they take in cultivating and harvesting this year's projected crop.