YINCHUAN, June 9 (Xinhua) — The Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo officially opened on Monday in Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The event marks the return of the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB), often referred to as the “Wine Olympics,” to China after a seven-year hiatus.
Over the course of four days, the expo has drawn more than 1,100 guests from both domestic and international wine industries, featuring 14 diverse activities. These include a global winery and wine exhibition, an innovation competition, and an art biennial, underscoring the event’s broad cultural and commercial scope.
Since its China debut in Beijing in 2018, the CMB has expanded significantly. This year’s edition has attracted nearly 400 international judges and over 7,000 wine samples, with a record number of entries submitted by Chinese wineries, according to CMB Chairman Baudouin Havaux. He emphasized that hosting the 32nd edition in Yinchuan signals a new chapter for the global recognition of China’s wine sector.
“The choice of Yinchuan is no coincidence,” Havaux noted, highlighting the growing influence of Chinese wines, particularly those produced in Ningxia.
Ningxia benefits from a unique terroir ideal for high-quality viticulture, characterized by extended sunlight and a cool, dry climate that fosters premium grape cultivation. After four decades of development, the region has emerged as China’s largest wine-producing area. The eastern foothills of Helan Mountain, known as a “golden zone,” are renowned for producing top-tier grapes and wines.
By the end of 2024, Ningxia’s vineyards covered more than 600,000 mu (approximately 40,000 hectares), with an annual production exceeding 140 million bottles. Its wines are now exported to over 40 countries and regions worldwide, reflecting the region’s expanding footprint in the global wine market.
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