Ningxia wine pilot zone to boost regional development

China has set up a comprehensive experimental zone for the development and opening-up of the wine and grape industries in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, as the wine-producing region has garnered global attention.

The pilot zone, the first set up in China for wine production, got the green light for its establishment from the State Council in May.

With abundant sunshine, little rainfall and semi-sandy soil, the zone boasts favorable conditions to grow grapes and it is expected to have 67,000 hectares of vineyards in five years and achieve sales revenue of 100 billion yuan ($15.6 billion) annually, according to the plan from the local government.

By 2035, the zone is expected to have 100,500 hectares of vineyards and generate annual sales totaling 200 billion yuan. By then, its scale will be similar to that of Bordeaux, a renowned wine-producing region in France, according to the plan.

The zone aims to become a production base for premier wines and export more products to countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

"We will grab the huge business opportunities emerging from the establishment of the pilot zone, and grow it as pillar industry for the high-quality development of the local economy," said Zhao Yongqing, vice-chairman of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

The pilot zone, which covers an area of 502.2 sq km in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, so far has more than 30 varieties of wine grapes, which is similar to the numbers seen in Bordeaux, as well as in Napa Valley in the United States.

Yet, China still lacks a sufficient number of renowned wine brands. The zone will introduce more premium grape varieties from global wine producing regions and attract more professional international talents and techniques, and cultivate more wine tasters and winemakers. The winemaking sector in Ningxia also plans to better integrate itself with chateau travel and e-commerce sales, according to the local government.