Beijing Dragon Seal Wine Museum
Royal Beijing isn’t all about sightseeing, but also the food and wine. They are unique-flavor local Beijing dishes and snacks, as well as superior wines worth savoring and tasting. Dragon Seal Winery in Yuquan Road of Shijingshan district has been producing wine for more than 100 years, and is considered a must-visit for a China wine tour in Beijing.
The History
Dragon Seal was founded in 1910s by a French clergyman named Shen Yunpu, based on a vineyard near Summer Palace. There were red and white wines at the beginning, then sparkling wine later, but only for church use, and not for sell. This is the origin of Beijing's wine industry and the predecessor of Beijing Dragon Seal Wine Museum.
Since 1940s, the winery was named the “Beiping Shangyi Winery” and has started a successful business, with the wine being purchased by foreign embassies, four and five-star hotels, high-class restaurants and exported to the other parts of Asia and Europe.
In 2001 Shanghai APEC meeting and 2005 Beijing “Fortune Forum”, Dragon Seal wines were used in the meeting. It was awarded the title of “Valuable Winery” in Asia for three consecutive years from 2005 to 2007 (World Wine Report).
The Beijing Dragon Seal Winery has been converted into a museum since 2006, and become a renowned producer and market leader in Beijing and beyond. Moreover, it the first and only museum in Beijing that themes at wine history and culture, and a good place for leisure travel if you are tired of the noisy urban life. >> Recommended 14-day China Wine Tasting Tour
What to Do and Drink
The museum is of plain, elegant Ming and Qing architectural style. When entering the museum, visitors are bound to be attracted by the “picture wall” at first, which is dedicated to lush photos of domestic leaders and Chinese famous celebrities inlcuding chairman Mao, Enlai Chou, actor Jackie Chan, who have ever had a story with Dragon Seal.
Then your Dragon Seal wine experience can be divided into four parts: the above ground exhibition hall, underground cellar, red wine club and the longue. Visitors can not only learn its one hundred years' history of wine making, but also experience personally the glamour of wine and savor the wine and excellent food.
The “Private Barrel Wine Storage Area” is built in the traditional European style, 11 meters below the ground, with a special personalized space for the storage of whole barrels of wine. No more than 100 private niches are available for the storage of whole barrels. This allows expensive and delicate wines to be kept at the optimal temperature, humidity and human protection during their growth.
Access
Location: No.2 Yuquan Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Ticket price: CNY30yuan
Opening hours: From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday
How to get there:
- Public transport: Take bus No. 10 or 530 and get off at Fuyu Intersection North; or take the subway and get off at Yuquan Road.
- By taxi/private car: Go west along the West Fourth Ring Road at the Dinghuisi Bridge exit, then turn right at the third traffic light on the Fushilu Auxiliary Road to get there.
