Archaeological Discoveries
in 2001
Archaeological Discoveries
in 2000
Top Ten Archaeological Finds
for 1999
Archaeological Discoveries
in 1999
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A Distillery in Chengdu, Sichuan Province

  The verified area covers 1,700 square meters, 280 square meters of which have been excavated. The exposed remains include three air-drying halls, eight wine cellars, four fermentation ranges, four ash pits and road foundations, wooden pillars and the foundations of distillation facilities. Large numbers of blue and white porcelain shards produced in the Ming and Qing dynasties were unearthed.

  The discovery of the site disclosed the whole process of distilling and liquor production during the Ming and Qing periods. The site was composed of a wine shop in front and a brewing workshop in the rear. The air-drying halls, wine cellars, and the fermentation ranges were located in the rear. The road and pottery and porcelain food and drink vessels collected from beside the distillery are assumed to be from the wine shop facing the street.

   The Shuijingjie Street Distillery (Quanxing Distillery) site was located by the original cellar of the Quanxing Distillery that is still in production today. From the underground accumulations of relics and the order of sequence of articles and objects, researchers have identified a chronological chain ranging from the Ming Dynasty to the present day, showing continuous production of liquor here for the past 500 years. This is the only example of winery production and business in ancient times ever found in China.