Du Kang Distillery Site

Du Kang Distillery Site

The Du Kang Distillery Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Du Kang Distillery Site is located 2 kilometers northeast of Kouzi Town, in present-day Dujiagang within the Du Kang Administrative Village. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a master brewer named Du Kang. The liquor he brewed was clear in color, strong in alcohol, and rich in flavor. Even when stored in bottles, jars, or vats—sealed with stoppers and lids—the potent aroma could waft over a mile away. Those addicted to liquor couldn’t even walk properly upon catching the rich scent, compelling them to take a hearty drink. Just a few cups could relieve worries, lift spirits, boost courage, and leave one feeling thoroughly refreshed.

In the past, visiting Kouzi Town without seeing Liu Ling’s Tomb or tasting the liquor brewed in Dujiagang was like seeking the dragon’s pearl but missing the precious jewel. Liu Ling’s Tomb was easy to find, but the liquor from Dujiagang was not so readily available. The reason? Dujiagang had a mystical pond, and the liquor brewed with its water was pure and fragrant, known for leaving no dry mouth or hangover. This pond remained free of mosquitoes and flies all year round, and no frogs were heard croaking in the summer—a fact well-known to the locals of Kouzi Town. Some skeptics once came to investigate, observing the pond for a full year, yet found neither mosquitoes nor frogs, and heard no frog calls in the summer. To test their doubts, they released frogs into the pond, only to see them scramble frantically back to the shore before hopping off to another pond. This pond was also called the Nine-Linked Pond, connected to eight similar ponds encircling Du Kang Village. In summer, while the other eight dried up, this one never did. During the dredging of the Nine-Linked Pond in 1958, the other eight were drained, but this one’s water remained. The commotion drew crowds from surrounding villages. Eventually, villagers used a bamboo pole to probe the depths, discovering a well that remained unfathomable even with a pole over ten meters long. A large tripod was set up above the pond, with three thick ropes (each 20 meters long) tied together and weighted with an iron block. Even then, the well’s depth couldn’t be measured. With no other options, they dug along the pond’s edge and uncovered several large rectangular liquor fermentation pits, along with burnt furnace slag and shattered wine cups. Most of the broken cups were crude, and as no one wanted them, their whereabouts are now unknown. Since the villagers lived far from the hill, no garbage had been dumped into the pond. It was eventually speculated that the furnace slag might have been from the Du Kang descendants’ distilling operations, the rectangular pits possibly their fermentation pools, and the deep well a legendary spring.

Source: Yingdong District Government Website

Kouzi Town: Located 23 kilometers east of Fuyang City, Kouzi Town covers an area of 81.83 square kilometers, governing 29 village committees, 8 neighborhood committees, 201 natural villages, 409 villager groups, with 73,487 mu of arable land, 16,370 households, and a total population of 75,592. It borders Yanglouzi Town to the east, faces Xinzhen Town of Yingzhou County across the river to the south, neighbors Yuanzhai Town to the west, and adjoins Zaohuang Town to the north.

Kouzi Town is situated in the warm temperate zone, classified as a semi-humid region, with annual rainfall of about 950 millimeters and distinct seasons. The town boasts a long history, fertile soil, and abundant resources... More details about Kouzi Town ++