China launches pilot zone to develop wine in Gobi Desert
China launches pilot zone to develo...
YINCHUAN - China has launched a national pilot zone to develop premium wine on the edge of the Gobi Desert, aiming to turn the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain into Chinas Bordeaux.
The National Open Development Comprehensive Pilot Zone for Grape and Wine Industry was inaugurated on July 10 in Minning Township, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which is located between 37 degrees and 39 degrees north latitude - considered to be within the "golden zone" for growing wine grapes.
The pilot zone - the first of its kind in China - with a planned area of more than 500 square km, is expected to cultivate 1 million mu (about 66,667 hectares) of vineyards in five years, with an estimated output value of 100 billion yuan (US$15.4 billion).