Enter the Vegetable Forest, where bell peppers line the roof, and watermelons grow to be as big as a thumb. Deeper inside, microphone-shaped pumpkins hang from vines, their heads green and handles yellow. Pluck and its color will stay fresh for more than a year.

Though it sounds like a fantastical yarn, the Vegetable Forest is real, and now on display as part of the inaugural Beijing Agriculture Carnival, which will last till May 12 at the Strawberry Expo Garden in Xingshou township, Changping district.

 The carnival showcases more than 700 kinds of agricultural products and advancements in agricultural technology.

The gardener who curated the vegetable and fruit oddities of the Vegetable Forest, Tan Baolin, walked Metropolitan through the exhibit, explaining that the oddly shaped microphone pumpkins are more for show and not a regular agricultural product.

In sharp contrast to those dainty visual delights, Tan pointed out a huge pumpkin weighing more than 50 kilograms which needs an iron plate to support its body during the growth process. There are two medium-sized "incomplete" pumpkins, cut by about one-third, hanging on the vines.

"It provides inexhaustible supply of pumpkin during the growing period because the breed has a self-healing ability, which means you cut one section from it today and it grows back days later," said Tan, adding that one drop of its juice can help a wound heal.

The cute thumb-sized watermelons look like green bells tied among green leaves, easy to pass by if not looking carefully.

Tan said that though its skin has the same veiny appearance as a watermelon, it is actually a kind of cucumber, and that is how it tastes.

"One plant bears at least 100 fruits," he said. "The skin, as thin as a piece of paper, is also edible."

Wang Zhenli, a senior horticulturist from Beijing Zhongnongfutong Gardening Co. Ltd, one of the underwriters of the carnival, told Metropolitan that the event aims to shorten the distance between agriculture and urbanites.

"It's an exploration of how agriculture can serve metropolitan residents," he said. "The agricultural products aren't only edible but also have educational and entertainment value."

Yang Bo, 33, an art teacher at the Machikou Central Primary School in Changping district, took 10 of her students to the carnival because she says today's children have fewer chances to get close to nature. Indoor training classes often occupy their entire weekends, she said.

"Judging from the fact that many students just imitate the illustrations in the book when drawing in my class, I found them lacking imagination," she said. "Visiting the agriculture expo to see more plants can help them gain inspiration."

Wang Yi, a 10-year-old student who was drawing when Metropolitan approached him, said that he was excited to see the unusual plants.

He also learned a bit more about the plants he sees regularly.

"Though I eat sweet potatoes all the time, I didn't know their roots were so dense and strong until I saw them shown growing in beakers today," he said.

The expo features plants suitable for growing in a city.

"My mouth waters when I see the thumb-sized watermelons," said Wang. "I hope my mom allows me to grow some in our balcony."