On May 8, the 2026 Qingdao Cherry Festival and the 31st Beizhai Cherry Festival began in the Laoshan Mountain scenic area. This sweet celebration offers cherry picking, cultural performances, industry collaboration, and leisure tourism.

This year, with favorable weather and careful orchard management, Beizhai's cherry orchards are experiencing a bumper harvest with more than 500,000 trees across over 40 varieties. Small cherries have already ripened, starting a two-week picking period, while larger cherries will be available from late May to mid-June, extending the season for visitors to enjoy fresh fruit.

The festival goes beyond simple fruit picking. Built around five main themes — travel, food, accommodation, coffee, and study tours — Beizhai has created three micro-vacation zones, 10 boutique travel routes, and 15 must-visit spots. At the vibrant Beizhai cherry market, visitors can indulge not only in fresh cherries but also in local specialties like goat's milk tofu and spring chicken. New cherry-infused health teas, such as cherry-jujube-goji, and DIY cherry wine workshops have become instant hits.

For younger visitors, "coffee and countryside" combines live folk concerts under cherry trees with trendy village cafes. Artisans offer experiences in baking using clay ovens, pottery, and tie-dyeing workshops, while boutique homestays and campsites provide guests the chance to wake up to mountain views and fall asleep to the sound of the breeze.

To strengthen the local industry, the Beizhai Agricultural Industry Alliance was launched, bringing together growers and cooperatives to build brands like Beizhai Red and Laoshan Fine Products. Founded on cherries, mushrooms, and herbs, the festival is making seasonal fruit a year-round driver for rural vitalization. Come and enjoy the sweet mountain life this May.

Small cherries are now ripe, beginning a two-week picking period; large cherries ripen from late May to mid-June, providing off-peak harvests and a steady supply of fresh fruit. [Photo/Qingdao Daily]