THE opening ceremony of the first China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo kicked off online and offline yesterday in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The event features an international wine contest, an exhibition of wine-manufacturing equipment, and forums on wine production, wine culture and wine tourism.

The expo aims to enhance exchanges and cooperation between major wine-producing countries globally and the winemaking regions of China, and promote the development of the industry.

According to the organizers, more than 180 vineyards and wine-related enterprises participate in the exhibition. A total of 620 wine varieties of 148 enterprises from 16 countries will compete in the wine contest.

Over the years, Ningxia has burgeoned into a major winemaking region in China. It has 211 wine chateaux — completed or under construction — with an annual output of 130 million bottles of wine.

In July this year, the National Open Development Comprehensive Pilot Zone for Grape and Wine Industry, the first of its kind in China, was set up in Ningxia with an objective of turning the region into China’s Bordeaux. (Xinhua)