In Geokchay, the orchard is full of fruitful pomegranate trees, which are endless at a glance... "At the entrance of the Geokchay Sports Stadium in Geokchay District, Azerbaijan, performers recite a poem celebrating the bountiful pomegranate harvest with the accompaniment of Sazkin. On November 9th, in the Gaiokchay district of Azerbaijan, growers showcased different varieties of pomegranates at the Pomegranate Festival. (Photo by Chen Junfeng, Xinhua News Agency) On the 9th, the Pomegranate Festival was held in Gaiokchay District. The local area is famous for producing high-quality pomegranates and is known as the "Pomegranate Town" of Azerbaijan. Not only is a rich variety of pomegranates planted here, but a pomegranate museum has also been established. The pomegranate planting area in Gaiokchay District is nearly 4000 hectares, with an annual output of about 50000 tons. In 2020, Azerbaijan's Pomegranate Festival celebration and culture were included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On November 9th, in the Gaiokchay district of Azerbaijan, people cooked pomegranate sauce during the Pomegranate Festival. Early on the morning of the 9th, local girls dressed in pomegranate shaped clothing stood at the entrance of the sports stadium to welcome guests. Several grandmothers holding large stones of pomegranate fruits recited poems praising pomegranates, and various pomegranate stalls were set up one after another. On the temporary stage set up in the sports stadium, people dressed in pomegranate like costumes sang and danced; The competition is full of excitement, including who can extract pomegranate juice the fastest and who can hold pomegranate juice for the longest time; Pomegranate juice, pomegranate jam, pomegranate champagne, pomegranate fruit wine, pomegranate salad, charcoal grilled pomegranate slices, pomegranate cake and other delicious foods make people salivate; Handmade crafts such as pomegranate paintings, carvings, porcelain, and woven products are dazzling... Azerbaijanis have a long history of pomegranate cultivation and regard pomegranate as the "king of fruits". The peak period for pomegranate harvest in the Geokchai district is from late October to early November every year. To celebrate the bountiful harvest of pomegranates, Azerbaijan has been holding the Pomegranate Festival in the Gaiokchay district since 2006, and this year marks the 16th edition. As its influence continues to expand, the Pomegranate Festival has become a shining business card of the Geokchai district. During this year's Pomegranate Festival, hotel rooms near the Gaiokchay Sports Center were fully booked early. Not only do Azerbaijani tourists come here, but more and more foreign tourists are also coming here. Alzu, a 19-year-old college student from the local School of Management and Technology, said that pomegranate symbolizes unity and prosperity, and is one of the cultural symbols of Azerbaijan. "Pomegranate Festival brings everyone together to experience the festive atmosphere, and also gives us the opportunity to showcase our culture to foreign tourists. Pomegranate trees are a widely planted characteristic fruit tree in Azerbaijan, with nearly 70 varieties of pomegranate planted in the Qaiokchai district. ”Zenalova, Deputy Chief Executive of Geokchay District, told Xinhua News Agency that planting pomegranates has greatly boosted the local economy, not only increasing the income of many farmers, but also exporting pomegranates to Russia, Belarus, Georgia and other places, bringing considerable foreign exchange income. China is a huge market, and we hope to export high-quality pomegranates to China so that Chinese consumers can also taste Azerbaijani pomegranates. ”Zenalova said. (New Society)