Check this out - this is what Clemson Extension Service has to say about Asian pears. I've seen them pears in Bilo (individually swaddled like a baby!) but haven't felt rich enough to try one yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clemson Ext - Growing Asian Pears

I have a 3x grafted asian pear (3 varieties grafted onto one stem to satisfy cross pollination) and i think it is one of the easiest tree fruits to grow. First few years they were flawless- but now that certain bugs have found them, i need to spray them with surround or something to keep them from biting the fruit, which then forms hard knots at the bite sight. Other than that, and watching for fire blight in spring, they are super easy. A very few western pears will pollinate asians. As far as i know, none of the asians are self pollinating, but i could be wrong about that. With judicious pruning, i've been able to keep my tree about 6' around, and about 10' tall. A manageable size. It bore after about 3 years in the ground. I got my tree from either one green world or raintree- don't recall which. Do your research well before selecting varieties, esp i you order from PNW, because fireblight is not nearly the issue out there. You have to make sure you order a tree that has rootstock that is fireblight resistant. There's great info through the nc coop service. They are amazingly good fresh off the tree!