Going for gold

"Laozi promoted the harmony of nature — and that's what we aim for in our winemaking, an expression of the land," Kang explains. Another label features the legendary musicians Boya and Ziqi, further tying the wine to cultural heritage.

In addition to grape growing and winemaking, the winery now includes a tasting area and is building a second-phase tourism project. This will include guesthouses and Ningxia cuisine, and is expected to open in the second half of this year.

"We're developing a 3,000-square-meter space, plus five space capsule-style guest rooms nestled among the vines — open the window and you'll see the vineyard stretching right outside," Kang says.