Moutai Distillery, nestled along the Chishui River in Zunyi, Guizhou Province, is a living fossil of Chinese baijiu craftsmanship and the birthplace of China’s distinctive Jiangxiang (sauce-aroma) style baijiu. Here, century-old cellars stand side by side with modern production facilities, embodying both the millennia-old heritage and contemporary innovation of Chinese liquor-making. Built into the mountainside, the distillery features clusters of traditional-style buildings with grey tiles and blue bricks coexisting harmoniously with state-of-the-art production lines—an architectural symphony that resembles a frozen epic of brewing history.
Upon entering the scenic area, visitors are greeted by an open-air cellar complex spanning over 500 acres. Beneath the ground lie subterranean fermentation pools, like time capsules slumbering through the ages, where liquor quietly matures in earthenware jars, slowly developing its rich, mellow aroma. Inside the modern brewing workshops, the traditional "12987" process—comprising steps such as grain steaming, cooling, and pit fermentation—is seamlessly integrated with advanced technology. The air fills with intoxicating fragrances during distillation, captivating all who visit. The Moutai Liquor Culture Museum displays an array of historical wine vessels and brewing tools, testifying to the accumulated wisdom of Chinese distillers from the Qin and Han dynasties through the Ming and Qing periods.
The production of Moutai liquor is intimately tied to the unique water quality and climate of the Chishui River region. Its time-honored techniques—“stepping qu on the Dragon Boat Festival” and “adding sorghum grains on the Double Ninth Festival”—are revered as sacred standards. Premier Zhou Enlai, founding Premier of the People’s Republic of China, personally visited the distillery for inspection, and Chairman Mao Zedong, principal founder of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the People’s Republic of China, also savored this exquisite liquor. As China’s national spirit, Moutai has graced countless diplomatic occasions, symbolizing national pride, while also becoming an inseparable part of joyful family reunions. This place is not merely where Moutai is born—it is the spiritual home of Chinese liquor culture.
