📍Zunyi Maotai Town

The history of Maotai Town and Maotai liquor.

Moutai Town, located by the banks of the Chishui River, is known as "China's First Liquor Town" for its production of Moutai liquor. Moutai liquor is the ancestor of sauce-flavored Daqu liquor, with a long history and rich cultural heritage. It is said that its prototype can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty's "Goujiang liquor". In 135 BC, Emperor Wu of Han praised it as "sweet and beautiful" and listed it as a tribute. In the Qing Dynasty, the liquor industry in Moutai Town flourished, with the three distilleries of Chengyi, Ronghe, and Hengxing laying the foundation for Moutai liquor. In 1915, Moutai liquor from Ronghe Distillery won the gold medal at the Panama International Exposition, gaining fame overseas. In 1935, during the Red Army's Long March, Moutai liquor was used to comfort the soldiers. In 1949, Moutai liquor became the beverage for the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China, solidifying its status as "national liquor". From 1951 to 1953, the three distilleries merged into the state-owned Moutai Distillery, further refining the brewing process. In 2001, the traditional brewing technique of Moutai liquor was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, with its brewing skills based on unique fermentation and the water quality of the Chishui River, symbolizing the essence of Chinese liquor culture. Moutai Town thrives on liquor, blending history, craftsmanship, and the bold spirit of Bashu culture, becoming a brilliant symbol of Chinese liquor culture.

Guizhou, the History of Moutai

Maotai Town, nestled along the Chishui River in Guizhou, is famed as “China’s No. 1 Liquor Town” for producing Moutai the archetype of sauce-aroma Baijiu. Its history traces back to the Western Han Dynasty’s “Goujiang wine” (135 BCE), praised by Emperor Wu as “sweet and beautiful” and designated as a tribute. By the Qing Dynasty, Moutai Town’s brewing flourished, with the Chengyi, Ronghe, and Hengxing distilleries shaping Maotai’s legacy. In 1915, Ronghe’s Maotai won gold at the Panama Pacific Exposition, gaining global acclaim. In 1935, it comforted Red Army soldiers during the Long March’s third Chishui crossing. In 1949, Maotai was served at the PRC’s founding banquet, earning its “national liquor” status. Between 1951-1953, the three distilleries merged into the state-owned Maotai Distillery, refining its craft. In 2001, Moutai’s traditional brewing was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, rooted in unique fermentation and Chishui River water. Moutai Town, enriched by history, craftsmanship, and Bashu spirit, shines as a beacon of Chinese liquor culture.