An exhibition hall in the 7th China Paocai Fair held in Meishan, Sichuan province. Huang Zhiling/chinadaily.com.cn

Visitors to the 7th China Paocai Fair in Meishan, Sichuan province are impressed with pickled food on display - pickled mushrooms, lotus roots, celery, bitter gourd, tender ginger, pig's ears and chicken's feet.

"People here pickle everything handy," said Xiong Ye, a middle-aged tourist from Zhongshan, Guangdong province.

Paocai means "pickle food" in Chinese.

With the theme "Paocai Industry and Brand," the three-day fair which kicked off on Saturday is sponsored by China National Food Industry Association, Sichuan provincial department of agriculture and Meishan municipal government.

The fair, which showcases products of Sichuan's representative pickle manufacturers, has served as a funfair for ordinary visitors who can taste many kinds of pickled food free of charge and have their photos taken with models posing as statues with their hands holding pickled food.

Sichuan, a famous pickle producer in China, made 3.1 million tons of pickled food last year, accounting for some 60 percent of China's total, said Pan Haiping, chief agronomist with the Sichuan provincial department of agriculture.

"Of the 3.1 million tons of pickled food Sichuan made last year, 1.4 million tons were from Meishan," he said.

According to Zhong Yi, deputy mayor of Meishan, the paocai industry witnessed the increase of 860 million yuan ($134 million) in income for 210,000 farmers in Meishan last year.

Best known for the birthplace of Su Shi (1037-1101), a great poet, gourmet and chef, Meishan with its fertile land has abounded in farm produces since ancient times.

In addition to pickled food, the fair showcases fruits, vegetables and loofah sponges one meter long.