Helan Mountain wines from NW China's Ningxia shine in Beijing

A wine promotion event highlighting the Helan Mountain east foothill wine region was held at the New Media Tower of People's Daily in Beijing on Aug. 28. Organized by the administrative committee of the Ningxia Helan Mountain East Foothill Wine Industry Park, the event showcased the region's unique growing conditions and industry achievements to a nationwide audience, aiming to further boost the influence of domestic wine brands.

Photo shows a scene of the event. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

Located in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Helan Mountain east foothill region sits along the 38th parallel north, part of what's widely recognized as the world's "golden belt" for growing wine grapes. The area benefits from ideal natural conditions: the Helan Mountains block sandstorms, the Yellow River provides irrigation, and the region gets plenty of sunshine along with the wide day-night temperature swings that help grapes develop rich flavor.

Ningxia now has more than 600,000 mu (40,000 hectares) of wine grape vineyards, and roughly one in every two bottles of domestically produced estate wine in China comes from the region. Its wines have won more than 1,800 international awards, and several have been selected for use as China's official diplomatic gifts. The region also exports to more than 40 countries and regions.

Li Jun, deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee and director of the administrative committee of the Ningxia Helan Mountain East Foothill Wine Industry Park, delivers a speech. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

At the event, Li Jun, deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee and director of the administrative committee of the Ningxia Helan Mountain East Foothill Wine Industry Park, said the region is working to combine wine with tourism, culture, and local development, building it into a lifestyle brand centered on wine, stargazing, and mountain scenery.

Tang Weihong, member of the Party Committee and vice president of People's Daily Online, delivers a speech. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

Tang Weihong, member of the Party Committee and vice president of People's Daily Online, said the platform will work with the region to boost its international profile, using AI and data tools to help support the local wine industry and connect producers with markets both in China and abroad.

Several local wineries also shared their stories at the event, from long-established estates with old vines to newer operations that have transformed former mining land into vineyards.

Representative wineries are introduced at the event. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

Representative wineries are introduced at the event. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

Looking ahead, Ningxia will host the 47th World Congress of Vine and Wine and the 6th China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan from Oct. 12 to 16, marking the first time the World Congress of Vine and Wine, organized by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), has been held in Asia.

Guests taste wines from Ningxia at the event. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)