A Short History of Chinese Wine Culture - Short Histories from Encyclopedia Publishing House (Beijing)

China has a long and splendid history of jiu, which can be translated as "wine" or as "liquor." China has many ethnic groups with different time-honored customs and traditions, and their differences extend to their relationships to wine. The culture of wine is an integral part of local folk customs with regional variations and wine plays an irreplaceable role in public rituals, ceremonies, banquets, and social functions.