CRI听力:Turpan: sweetest grape driving local economy

It's the harvest season for grapes in Turpan this year. Visitors and fruit wholesalers from across the country swarm into a 300-square-meter exhibition hall, appreciating 170 grape varieties and tasting 50 of the most popular ones.

Zhang Huijuan is a visitor from Beijing.

"There are so many kinds of grapes here, which has really surprised me. Since I've never known there are so many kinds of grapes."

Yan Xiaofeng is a fruit wholesaler.

"I have tasted more than ten grape varieties. It's very delicious. I'm so happy and will come again."

With as much land as 34 thousand hectares dedicated to growing grapes, Turpan is China's largest fresh grape production region. The city also boasts an annual output of one million tons.

Naijierding Abulaike, deputy director of Forestry Bureau of Turpan said:

"Our grapes are the most famous brand of Turpan. We are using them to promote this place and attract investment. Now the annual sales of grapes here can reach 300 thousand tons."

Besides juicy and sweet grapes, the 25th Turpan Grape Festival is also lit up with a variation of floats including exhibitions of history , folk-custom and jade culture, as well as Xinjiang's folk music and dance.

Japar Sierdake is a Turpan folk dancer.

"Today is the grape festival. Today I show off our 'eyebrow dance' to visitors from all over the country. I am so happy and hope Turpan's tourism will flourish."

The history of grape harvesting in Turpan dates back to more than 2 thousand years. And there are more than 550 kinds of grapes there all together, some of which are the sweetest grapes in the world, with 22-24 percent sugar.

In recent years, Turpan has focused on the development of its grape industry.

An Jinqiang is the director of the Tourist Bureau in Turpan.

"It's not only for attracting more visitors, but also for promoting our cultural industry for investors, as well as encouraging all people in Turpan to participate in the tourist industry all year round."

This year's grape festival is also commemorating the 2100th anniversary of the establishment of the Silk Road.