The first pomegranate flower festival themed with "Xichuan, culture and tourism bay" blossomed in Xichuan, a county in Nanyang city, on May 18.

Guests, experts, writers and poets from the city and other parts of Henan province attended the opening ceremony held in Shengwan township, delighted with the pomegranate blossoms and the charm of rural cultural tourism.

A series of cultural programs including "Beautiful Home in My Bay", "The Most Beautiful Hometown", "Tea Charm Dance", "Spring Ballet" and "Danjiang Beauty" won warm applause at the opening ceremony.

Tourists enjoyed its grand scene at the pomegranate flower base after the opening ceremony. The flowers were blooming all over the mountains and dancing in the wind in thousands of styles, which makes people linger and not want to leave.

Shengwan is the birthplace of Xichuan's soft-seed pomegranates, which have flourished in the county for a decade since the establishment of the Danshengyuan base in 2009. So far Xichuang has developed a soft-seed pomegranate base of more than 40,000 mu (2,666.67 hectares).

A variety of fresh, exciting and outdoor activities and convenient facilities were provided such as barbecues, bonfire parties, a car "drive-in" theater, and a camping site. Simultaneously, the Xichuan Photographer Association and the Xichuan Cultural Center held photography and printing exhibitions to demonstrate Xichuan's history and culture.