Maotai Town

“China's No. 1 Liquor Town” on the Chishui River, with Moutai's distilling craft, the China Liquor Culture City and a Red Army crossing point from the Four Crossings of the Chishui River.

Maotai Town belongs to Renhuai City in Zunyi, Guizhou Province, and sits in a valley on the east bank of the middle reaches of the Chishui River. It is the birthplace of Moutai liquor and is known as “China's No. 1 Liquor Town.” The town stretches along the narrow valley, with distilleries and workshops stacked up the hillsides on both banks and the scent of sauce-aroma liquor hanging in the air year-round. It was also an important crossing point during the Red Army's Four Crossings of the Chishui River in 1935. The best season is autumn (Sep–Nov): around the Double Ninth Festival the distilleries begin xiasha, loading the new sorghum, and the river turns from red to clear. Spring is also pleasant, while summer in the valley is hot and muggy. The sights are concentrated in the town center: the China Liquor Culture City, 1915 Square, Maotai Ferry with the Red Army Four Crossings of the Chishui River Memorial Park, and Yangliuwan Old Street can all be linked on foot in a day. Stop at the National Liquor Gate for photos on your way in or out, and if you have time, follow the Chishui River downstream to Erlang Town in Gulin, Sichuan, to visit the Langjiu estate. Getting there: Zunyi Maotai Airport is near downtown Renhuai, expressways connect directly to Zunyi and Guiyang, and the drive from downtown Renhuai to Maotai Town takes about 20 minutes. Plan 1–2 days; it can be combined with Zunyi and Chishui into a liquor-country and Long March itinerary. Tips: visits to distillery workshops usually require booking; buy liquor only through official channels and be wary of loose, unbottled liquor; never drive after a tasting.

Top sights

• China Liquor Culture City – A large museum complex built by the Moutai Group to showcase Chinese liquor history, vessels and the development of Moutai by dynasty.
• Maotai Old Street (Yangliuwan) – An old street built into the hillside along the Chishui River. Liquor workshops and distilleries line the lanes, where you can visit small…
• Moutai Guojiu Gate – A monumental archway marking the entrance to Maotai Town, impressive in scale and a must-photograph landmark for visitors to Maotai.
• 1915 Square – A riverside square commemorating Maotai liquor’s award at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, and the central landmark of Mao…
• Maotai Ferry & Red Army Chishui Crossing Memorial – The site of the Red Army’s crossing of the Chishui River in 1935, where a memorial tower overlooking the river stands as a red landmark of…
• Chishui River Riverside, Maotai – The Chishui River flows through town and is known as the “River of Fine Wine.” Its riverside path offers views of distilleries on both bank…
• Langjiu Manor, Erlang – The Langjiu distillery base in Erlang Town, downstream on the Chishui River. Highlights include Tianbao Cave, a natural limestone cave used…

Where to eat

• Maotai International Hotel · Chinese Restaurant – The Chinese restaurant of a hotel on Hebin Avenue in Maotai Town, serving Guizhou and Yanbang dishes. It is often rated…

Itineraries

• Chishui River Valley Self-Drive: Red History & Danxia Landforms – Follow the Chishui River from Zunyi to the Danxia waterfall clusters, connecting Long March sites, liquor towns, and an…
• Grand Guizhou Self-Drive Loop – A comprehensive self-drive loop starting and ending in Guiyang, covering all nine prefectures and cities, including wat…