China launches pilot zone to develop premium wine in Gobi Desert

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 China's 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 ($15.4 billion).

In the next 15 years, the goal of the wine zone is to have 1.5 million mu of vineyards, with a total output value of 200 billion yuan.

"If this goal can be achieved, the pilot zone will become one of the largest quality wine producing areas in the world," said Sui Pengfei, director general of the international cooperation department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, at the launch ceremony.