Yantai apples are popular for their bright color and sweet and succulent taste. [Photo/VCG]

Laiyang, a county-level city in Yantai, Shandong province, is preparing for the upcoming first Shandong International Apple Festival, which will be held on Oct 27-29.

"A total of 16 companies have applied for the event and four will participate in the live stream of the event," a local official said.

Laiyang is encouraging its leading apple processing companies, e-commerce companies, and cooperatives to take part in the event and also plans to sign agreements with other enterprises to promote the apple industry.

The apple industry is one of Laiyang's traditionally dominant industries, and apples are cultivated over an area of 220,000 mu (14,666.66 hectares). The annual output value of the apple industry is 2.3 billion yuan ($344.2 million).

The city is currently in the process of renovating old orchards, and has renovated an area of 53,000 mu so far.

In addition, Laiyang has built apple production centers to offer guidance to villages in terms of apple planting varieties, cultivation methods, and management techniques.

To date, the city has established one demonstration park at the municipal level, one at the county level, and four at the township level.