Meandering through mellow Malu grape country

By Fei Lai  |   2008-7-5  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

MALU grapes from Jiading District are justly famous for being delicious, sweet and juicy. Malu Town is a Shanghai oxygen bar where you can pick your own in the annual festival, writes Fei Lai.

The winter snowstorms early this year and the recent rains delayed the arrival in the market of Jiading District's famous Malu grapes. But here they are, and they are as sweet and delicious as ever.

The Shanghai Malu Grape Festival opens today at Malu Grape Park. For the next three months, visitors will be intoxicated (though not by alcohol) by the flavor of the mellow grapes.

Themed "A happy trip to Malu, Shanghai's Turpan" (after the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's famed grape-growing area), the festival features grape picking, wine salons and plenty of fun. Activities include "Romantic Grapevine" for Chinese Valentine's Day on August 7, boating and grape picking, and family Olympic Games events.

Malu grapes are known for wonderful eating, but some people press them to make homemade wine, which you can sample.

"It is a trip full of experience. Everyone will be amazed to find that grapes could be grown like this and be so sweet and juicy," said Liu Jun, Malu Town's director.

"To produce the slightest change in color or taste requires numerous trials and errors. For those eager to learn more about grapes, it is truly an adventure to Malu. The process of picking grapes and tasting what you have picked is a delightful experience within easy access."

It usually takes less than 45 minutes to reach Malu from Shanghai's downtown area. With convenient transport and beckoning grapes, the town is becoming a desirable place for outings with friends, family and co-workers.

Malu has been growing grapes for 27 years, and there are more than 100 varieties, 40 of them produced on large scale.

High quality has earned the grapes the title of "Beijing Olympics Recommended Fruit."

This is the festival's eighth year and more features have been added.