Workers process distilled grains at a distillery of Yisheng Jiu in Haimen, a county-level city in Nantong, on May 7. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Yisheng Jiu, a signature liquor brand in Nantong, was founded in 1894 by Zhang Jian, a famous Chinese educator and businessman in Yisheng village, Haimen.

The company has preserved 42 century-old fermentation pits and traditional rice wine brewing techniques, which is seldom seen in China.

The liquor won a gold medal at the international exposition held in Milan, Italy in 1906, marking a milestone for the development of China's liquor industry.

Workers transport distilled grain at a distillery of Yisheng Jiu in Haimen, a county-level city in Nantong, on May 7. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Over the past century, the company has experienced wars, social turbulence and development crisis, maintaining high product quality throughout. In 2010, Yisheng Jiu was sent as a national gift to the foreign minister of South Africa and proved popular in the country.

To meet increasing demand, the company plans to spend 1.28 billion yuan ($181 million) to build 2,000 fermentation pits, a research and development center, an automatic packing and logistics center, and a storage center capable of housing 10,000 tons of liquor.

In addition to liquor production, the company has turned the old plant into a tourist attraction. Museums were established to introduce the brewing process, Chinese liquor culture and stories about its founder Zhang Jian.

Tourists can also visit the Yisheng Botanical Garden to learn about herbs, flowers, fruits and grains used to produce Yisheng Jiu.