The countryside takes on a red hue for Fangshan visitors

Chateau BoLongBao is China's first organic wine chateau, and its wines have won many national and international awards. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"The aim is to give visitors a comprehensive understanding of the chateau, to let them savor the culture and simply get a taste of the good life," says Zou, who has worked for the chateau for four years.

Fangshan has attracted big wine investors such as Chateau Changyu-AFIP and Chateau Bolongbao because of its ideal vinifera planting conditions.

In 2012, 33 chateaux signed agreement with the district. Twenty-two chateaux have been built, 13 of which have begun to produce wine, and the local government has invited international experts to offer planting guidance and training

Densiho now offers custom-made services including birthday banquets, self-service barbecues, wine-tasting dinners and weddings.

The chateau and its scenic surrounds are a popular getaway destination for individuals, groups, families and companies. Business has been good this year, with about 500 paid visits a month, Zou says.

An ideal time for a visit is between July and October, he says, when grapes are ripening or have ripened, making for a more enjoyable sightseeing and wine experience. Visitors can also taste local wines.

Densiho says it plans to offer wooden cabins and family farm programs to provide an even more enjoyable experience. Sightseeing tours, grape picking trucks and multiuse cross-country vehicles will eventually be brought into service, Zou says.

Xue Fei, a winemaker with Chateau BoLongBao, an established winery in the area, says Fanghan's terroir is perfect for wine making, and the climate and soil conditions give the wine a particular taste and texture that make Fangshan a highly promising wine producing area.

Boloong is China's first organic wine chateau, and its wines have won many national and international awards, Xue says.

The area's mountain views and natural beauty are highly attractive to travelers, Xue says, adding that city dwellers may also be able to lap up something they may not often see at home: squirrels, rabbits and a lot of beautiful birds.