TANGKAK: About 1,000 Chinese nationals from Jiangsu Province – believed to be the largest group of foreign tourists in Tangkak – recently visited a durian farm here.

A total of 28 buses picked up the tourists, who are visiting Malaysia on a company incentive tour, from Kuala Lumpur to experience the durian farm in Tangkak.

An eye-opening experience for the visitors, they managed to learn about how a durian tree is grown, the different types of durians, witness workers pack durians and they hold a durian too.

Nantong World Trade Association president Chen Hui, 60, said the companies in Jiangsu opted for Malaysia in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Malaysia-China ties.

Chen himself has never visited a durian farm despite having visited Malaysia many times, getting friends to courier frozen durians from Malaysia for his family in Jiangsu Province.

“I have never seen a durian tree and do not expect a durian tree to be so tall,” he said, adding that in China durians are only grown in Hainan Island.

Many are excited to learn about how to grow a durian tree as they have savoured the king of fruits but never actually see a durian tree themselves.