Recently, a group of department heads from China Alcoholic Drinks Association (CADA) and China National Light Industry Council (CNLIC), came to Zhijiang to evaluate its qualification as a famous liquor city. The group acknowledged that liquor manufacturing industry in Zhijiang conformed to the conditions and terms for a liquor city in China after serious access, owing to its profound cultural foundation, solid industrial base, outstanding leading enterprise, strong sustainable development as well as typical regional characteristics.

　　Zhijiang, with a long history of brewing, plays a leading role in the food and beverage industry. The liquor industry, with four big liquor enterprises and over 100 liquor trademarks, is one of the four main pillar industries of Zhijiang. The "Zhijiang" Brand liquor has been awarded one of "China Time-honored Brands" and one of "China\'s Well-known Trademarks" under the protection of National Protection of Geographical Indications. Zhijiang planned to invest 4 billion RMB (about $654,000,000) to build the Zhijiang Liquor Industrial Park, with an integration of research and development, modernized production and logistics, where a 50,000-ton filling center has already completed and will be put into production.

　　The 42 enterprises in cluster led by Zhijiang liquor industry, have been listed as one of the key developing industry clusters in Hubei Province for 8 consecutive years since 2006. The city government introduced a special rewarding system in order to accelerate the industrial transformation and instruct key liquor enterprises more efficiently. Furthermore, the government has also formulated some favorable policies in special funds and major projects to support the enterprises in an all-round way. In recent years, Zhijiang has arranged an annual schedule of economic dispatch, i.e. 40 million RMB (about $6,539,300) to aid the development of the liquor industry. Hubei Province and Yichang City have accumulatively provided funds with over 1.5 million RMB (about $2,452,200) to support the industry clusters.

　　The liquor enterprises of Zhijiang have signed a long-term technical cooperation agreement with Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei University of Technology and China Three Gorges University. Zhijiang Liquor Trade Corporation Limited has established the Hubei Brewing Engineering Research Center, Postdoctoral Industry Base and Premier Quality Inspection Center in mid-south region. Now there are 384 professional and technical personnel in the liquor industry, 3 experts enjoying the special allowance of the State Council, 2 with the title of “Outstanding Chinese Liquor Makers”, 8 with the title of “China Liquor Judges” and 5 entitled “Cordial Judges” in the liquor industry.

　　In order to build a Chinese famous liquor city, capital, technology and personnel will be put together for the liquor industry clusters and industrial parks. The city will help to upgrade Zhijiang Liquor Trade Corporation Limited, hoping to make it the biggest new famous liquor brand in China. Furthermore, Zhijiang will also support Xiling Liquor, Hongling Liquor and Xiangshuai Liquor and other small or medium-sized wine producers to develop new products and open up a bigger market. It will lead the liquor enterprises and strengthen cooperation, too. A win-win development pattern with diversities will be achieved through brand licensing, joint research and development. What is more, the city will accelerate the development of liquor supporting industries and actively extend the industry chain. By doing so, in the clusters containing planting, brewing, storing, filling, exhibiting, package, logistics, tourism and leisure will get stronger and better. Hopefully, the liquor production capacity will reach 15 million liters, liquor sales revenue will attain RMB 12.5 billion (about $2,452,200) and RMB 1 billion (about $163,484,200) in profits and taxes. (Correspondent: Fang Mingmo, Xia Jiaoyang)