​Yicheng sees burgeoning pomegranate bonsai industry

2021-09-13 19:37

The pomegranate bonsai created by growers in Yicheng district of Zaozhuang, East China's Shandong province has won many awards at home and abroad. [Photo by Wang Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Yicheng district in Zaozhuang, East China's Shandong province, which is dubbed "the hometown of pomegranates in China", has experienced great development in the pomegranate bonsai sector.

The district is one of the biggest pomegranate producing regions in China, boasting a large number of varieties and the most complete industrial chain for pomegranates. It is home to more than 300 pomegranate bonsai growers, with an annual output of nearly 200,000 pots that are worth over 500 million yuan ($77.58 million).

The art of pomegranate bonsai has a long history of more than 200 years in Yicheng. It was included on the list of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage items in 2012.

The district has been making concerted efforts to promote the development of the sector. In 2020, it formed a bonsai artists association consisting of more than 150 people to establish a platform for exchanges, cooperation, and training.

It also launched a pomegranate bonsai industrial park last year, with 7 million yuan in investment. The park is expected to feature 18 bonsai gardens, each spanning 1,800 square meters. The district has also established strong partnerships with many domestic horticulture markets.