As Huanghua pears ripen in Shuanglong village in Jinyun county, Lishui, Zhejiang province, the air is filled with a fresh and sweet fragrance.

Villagers are busy processing freshly picked pears into dried slices. The snow-white pear pieces are neatly arranged on drying racks, gleaming under the sunlight — a scene that has been repeated for generations.

Two baskets of fresh Huanghua pears. [Photo/Tide News]

Shuanglong village began growing pear trees in the 1980s and now has nearly 50 years of cultivation history. By the 1990s, the village's pear orchards covered over 2,700 mu (180 hectares). The village was designated a provincial demonstration base for Huanghua pears.

To confront the short shelf life of fresh pears, villagers process them into dried pears.

A villager makes dried pears in Jinyun county of Lishui, Zhejiang. [Photo/Tide News]

The traditional method involves washing, peeling, and coring the pears before cutting them into even pieces. These are then boiled, cooled, and dried for 12 hours.

Modern fruit dehydrators have improved hygiene and efficiency compared to traditional sun-drying. Dried pears have become a local specialty, enjoyed as snacks, gifts, or with tea.

Dried pear slices in a fruit dehydrator. [Photo/Tide News]

With the growth of rural tourism and e-commerce, villagers have expanded their offerings to candy made from pear syrup. It takes 18 kilograms of fresh pears to make one kilogram of syrup, which is valued for its health benefits. The pear-syrup candy has gained popularity among urban customers.