A visit to a small distillery which has been producing Baijiu, Chinas famous alcoholic drink, since the Qing Dynasty. The process, materials and methods are as strange as the drink.
I’ve travelled down the Hexi corridor into the far western province of Xinjiang. Its China’s largest and least populated province. Famous for its dried fruit, its wine and more recently, news reports about the trouble there.
Now I've got my visa renewed for another year, it's probably ok to write about life in a security clampdown. But I'd feel better if it didn't have my name on it.
The Hexi corridor is a narrow strip of fertile land along the silk road into China from the west. Full of history, diverse cultures and dramatic scenery.
The vast, designated tourist area, is a collection of attractions themed around local history and myths. Its development has slowed and is decaying faster than new attractions are completed.