Site of the Jiannanchun Distillery

Site of the Jiannanchun Distillery

The site of the Jiannanchun Distillery is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The site of the Jiannanchun Distillery in Chengguan Town, Mianzhu City, Sichuan — namely, the "Tianyilao Hao" Distillery site of Jiannanchun — was originally part of a demolition project by the Jiannanchun Group targeting the single-story houses on both sides of Qipan Street. After the discovery of historical relics, the work quickly transitioned into a “rescue excavation.” Between 2003 and 2004, the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute and the Deyang Municipal Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute conducted multiple excavations at the distillery site. Using scientific methods, they ultimately reconstructed the brewing techniques and former appearance of Mianzhu’s Jiannanchun, one of Sichuan’s finest liquors, laying another cornerstone for the generational inheritance of Chinese liquor culture.

Historically, Mianzhu County in Sichuan was a major center for liquor production. According to historical records, during the Song Dynasty, the central government appointed wine supervisors or tax officials in Mianzhu to manage liquor taxation (from “Song History · Treatise on Food and Commodities”). The Mianzhu County Annals state that during the Ming Dynasty, the local liquor industry declined but recovered during the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era. At that time, there were over 90 liquor workshops, including 18 dedicated to producing Daqu liquor. Among them, the four most famous distilleries were “Zhu (Tianyilao), Yang, Bai, and Zhao.” By the Qianlong era, “Mianzhu Daqu” had become widely renowned. In the third year of the Xuantong reign (1911), “Mianzhu Daqu” won the first-place silver medal at the First Commercial Encouragement Fair. In 1922, it received first prize at the Sichuan Provincial Encouragement Fair. In 1961, Mianzhu Daqu was renamed “Jiannanchun.” In April 2003, the archaeological excavation of the Jiannanchun “Tianyilao Hao” Distillery site officially began, led by veteran archaeologist Chen Dean, covering an area of 12,000 square meters. Prior to this, considerable preparatory work had been done, including locating historical documents describing the layout of the “Tianyilao Hao” Distillery on Qipan Street. The owner’s name, the scale of the distillery, the types of products made, and tax records were all investigated, mapped, and verified through testimony from local elders.

In the authoritative selection of “China’s Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries,” a total of 22 significant archaeological finds across the country competed. The previously media-favored Qishan Zhougong Temple site in Shaanxi lost out due to the ongoing need for further excavations — highlighting just how fierce the competition was.

The inclusion of the Jiannanchun “Tianyilao Hao” Distillery site was both unexpected and unsurprising. Speaking about its reasons for winning and academic value, Xu Pingfang, Chairman of the Chinese Archaeological Society, pointed out that the Jiannanchun “Tianyilao Hao” Distillery site mainly showcased two important characteristics: first, it presented a complete traditional liquor brewing process; second, the entire street layout of “front shop and back workshop” was preserved intact and clearly, comprehensively reflecting the economic conditions of Mianzhu, a distinctive handicraft city during the late Qing and early Republican period. This is rare among ancient Chinese cities, which were typically characterized by political centers, making it a highly novel find.

This “novelty” mentioned by Xu Pingfang may well herald new fields and directions in Chinese archaeological research. Looking at the results of the previous 14 “China’s Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries,” “winning by age” had almost become a golden rule — the older the history, the more valuable it was. Announcements were always ordered by historical chronology, and nearly all selected projects were from the “ancient Chinese agricultural society,” such as the Shang Dynasty oracle bones from the previous selection, scenes of the Han Dynasty along the Yellow River’s old course, and the prehistoric Taosi city site in Xiangfen City, Shanxi. But this time, the Jiannanchun “Tianyilao Hao” Distillery site — an “industrial archaeology” project from the Qing Dynasty to the early Republican period — defeated the much older Zhougong Temple site to win a spot, undoubtedly breaking the “norm” and setting a very positive precedent.

The selection process is based on three criteria: whether the archaeological find genuinely possesses “cultural value,” “historical value,” and “scientific value.” The most innovative “scientific value” of the Jiannanchun “Tianyilao Hao” Distillery site lies in its status as a typical representative and physical artifact from the specific historical “transitional period” between the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period — when Chinese society shifted from a traditional agricultural society to a modern industrial society.

In the past, “winning by age” was the golden rule in evaluating archaeological projects. Today, “China’s Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries” increasingly focuses on introducing milestone and culturally symbolic archaeological discoveries to the public. It emphasizes not only the three major values — cultural, historical, and scientific — but also places special importance on “new content” and “new materials.” The inclusion of the Jiannanchun “Tianyilao Hao” Distillery site undoubtedly marks the injection of this new content and material, and signals the growing attention within China’s archaeological community toward projects related to the modern industrial society. This broader perspective in selection holds extraordinary significance for China’s archaeological field and for society as a whole.

The excavation of the Jiannanchun “Tianyilao Hao” Distillery site was a significant archaeological endeavor. Its large scale, comprehensive preservation of brewing remains, and excellent state of conservation surpass previous discoveries, giving it important scientific value.

Protected Area: East to the entrance archway of Jiannan Old Street; South to Wangmaxiang; West to the west wall of Guan Di Temple; North to 1 meter beyond the north edge of the exhibition hall in the site area.

Construction Control Zone: North to the intersection of Chunyi Street and Mingyang Street (Five-Road Intersection); South to Sanxing Street; West to Nanxi Road; East to the entrance archway of Jiannan Old Street.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units