Climbing the Great Wall, eating roast duck and drinking Erguotou are three must-do things on a Beijing tour. Nearly every foreign tourist coming to Beijing tastes the authentic Beijing Ergouotou. But they seldom knows the distillation process.

Red Star is one of the often seen Erguotou brands. The Red Star Co., Ltd built an Erguotou Museum in its company headquarters in Huairou district and it is open to public.

Erguotou, a kind of white liquor made from sorghum, is well-known distilled liquor consumed by ordinary Chinese people. It is usually not expensive and very popular among ordinary Chinese people in northern China. And one can easily associate Erguotou with Beijing.

Incredibly clean and well-maintained, the entire museum complex is a factory that’s still used to distil vats and vats of Erguotou. At the entrance a (Mandarin-speaking) guide greets you and takes you on a journey through Erguotou’s brewing process and extensive history, and even allows you to sample a bit. There is also, inexplicably, a kids’ funhouse.

The museum vividly exhibits the whole vinification process of Erguotou, with large number of lively objects. Visitors can have a good shot of the Erguotou brewed by themselves, or mark them then send to friends as a commemoration. What’s more, one can experience the real drunken state through a virtual world created by lights.

Open: 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily

Admission: Free (reservation required)

Tel: 86 10 6169 7259

Add: 1 Hongxing Road, Huairou District

怀柔区红星路1号