Yili Liquor

Yili Liquor

Yili Liquor is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Yili Liquor refers to baijiu produced in regions of the Ili River Valley such as Xiaoerbulake Town in Xinyuan County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The Ili River Valley boasts lush water and grasslands, abundant resources, and is known as the “Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall” and the “Granary of Xinjiang,” providing excellent natural conditions for baijiu production. Baijiu brands such as Yilite, Yilite Laojiao, Yilihe, and Xiaoerbulake are renowned far and wide for their rich and mellow aroma.

　　　Known as the “Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall,” the Ili River Valley features sweet spring water rich in various minerals. These unique high-quality waters brew the fine liquors of Yili. Stretching from Wulastai in the east to the China-Kazakhstan border in the west—with a shape that widens from east to west like an open peacock’s tail—the valley is shielded from Siberian cold fronts by the Tianshan Mountains to the north and from the hot, dry winds of the Taklamakan Desert by the South Tianshan range. Its westward-opening shape allows it to receive warm, moist airflows from the Atlantic and Mediterranean, resulting in abundant rainfall, clear mountains, green waters, and lush grasslands. This makes the valley a verdant island amid the arid deserts of the inland Eurasian continent.

　　Throughout the Ili River Valley, whether in mountain foothills or plains, one can find vast, lush pastures stretching as far as the eye can see. Along the banks of the Ili River lies 50,000 square kilometers of fertile farmland, producing premium rice and wheat that have earned the region the title “Granary of Xinjiang.” It is also Xinjiang’s largest production base for oilseed crops. Notably, Xiaoerbulake Town in Xinyuan, the famed home of Xinjiang’s wine culture, is nestled in the picturesque Gongnaisi River Valley. To its west lies Yining, to the east the Nalati Grassland, and it is flanked by branches of the Tianshan Mountains on the north and south. Xiaoerbulake—called “Sacred Spring” in Mongolian and “Alkaline Spring” by the Kazakh herders who have long inhabited the area—is rich in beneficial trace elements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

　　Production Overview

　　　　Baijiu is one of the “four traditional industries” in Xinyuan County, where key enterprises include Yilite Industrial Co., Ltd. and Xiaoerbulake Co., Ltd. The county actively encourages and supports the growth of baijiu enterprises, continuously expanding their market share. In 2005, the annual baijiu output of the county reached 24,000 tons, generating tax revenue of 100.19 million yuan, accounting for 60.75% of national tax income—an 18% year-on-year increase, with an additional 15.33 million yuan in revenue. During the 11th Five-Year Plan period, the county’s annual baijiu production hit 50,000 tons, achieving sales revenue of 800 million yuan and establishing itself as the “flagship” leading the development of Xinjiang’s baijiu industry.

　　The “Yilite” series of liquors produced in Xinyuan County are crafted from high-quality sorghum, wheat, peas, and other ingredients sourced from the Ili River Valley. They are made using China’s traditional “Five-Cask Brewing Method” along with modern technology, and are classified as strong-aroma baijiu. The liquor is crystal-clear, aromatic, smooth on the palate, and has a long-lasting finish. Praised as the “Number One Liquor of Xinjiang,” it enjoys the reputation of being the “Moutai of Xinjiang.” Its flagship products, Yilite Qu and Yilite Laojiao, have repeatedly won top honors in Xinjiang’s famous liquor evaluations and have both been named Chinese Famous Products. Additionally, the “Yilihe” Special Qu produced by Yili Alcohol Factory, with its long brewing history, has been designated a “China Time-Honored Brand.” Known for its crystal clarity, rich and authentic aroma, smooth and sweet taste, and lingering aftertaste, it has been recognized as a provincial and ministerial-level quality product multiple times.

　　Production Area

　　　　The protected geographical indication production area for Yili Liquor includes six townships and two regimental administrative regions in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: Xiaoerbulake Town, Taled Town, Zeketai Town, Xinyuan Town, Bestobe Township, and Huyadiyuzi Township, as well as Regiment 71 and Regiment 72 of the Fourth Agricultural Division.