Introduction to Yuanshenghao Museum.
Completed in 2011, it is located on Qianmen Street. Yuanshenghao is the birthplace of Erguotou craftsmanship. In 1680, three craftsmen from Yuanshenghao distillery on Qianmen Street invented the traditional brewing technique of Erguotou liquor. When distilling liquor, the first and third pots are discarded, and only the liquor condensed and flowing out of the second pot with pure and fragrant taste is taken, so it is called “Erguotou”.
In order to better promote liquor culture, Red Star renovated the Yuanshenghao Museum in Qianmen and widely spread the history and culture of “Erguotou” through this project. After renovation, according to the historical records of Yuanshenghao, the historical materials of Beijing’s urban development and the historical materials since the establishment of Red Star factory, the exhibition area on the first floor of the museum is divided into three parts: front store, back workshop and Red Star hall.
The front store area restores the environment of the old tavern in the Qing Dynasty, giving the audience an immersive experience as soon as they enter. Especially the somatosensory interactive LED large screen at the entrance. As soon as the audience enters, a virtual waiter comes forward to say hello, and through the performance of actors, the prosperous business scene in Yuanshenghao distillery in the Qing Dynasty is reproduced. This part also introduces the historical story of the establishment of Yuanshenghao distillery and the historical background of the invention of Erguotou craftsmanship.The back workshop uses a variety of expression methods to introduce the whole process of traditional Erguotou brewing craftsmanship, including raw materials, craftsmanship and the origin of the name “Erguotou”. It adopts the way of scene restoration instead of the static display method in the past. Combined with multimedia projection (starter-making process), phantom imaging (origin of the name Erguotou), and interactive transparent screen (demonstration of the old five-steamer process), it brings the audience an interactive visiting experience that can be seen, heard and touched, presenting the traditional brewing process of Erguotou to visitors in a straightforward, easy-to-understand and novel way.
The Red Star hall uses distinct and atmospheric colors to distinguish different historical stages of Red Star’s development, showing the outstanding contributions made by Red Star in inheriting the traditional craftsmanship of Erguotou, spreading the brewing technology of Erguotou, setting a quality benchmark for Erguotou, and leading the development of Erguotou category. The audience can listen to the founding story of Red Star factory told by Wang Qiufang, the founding member of Red Star factory, through a handheld receiver, and learn historical stories such as Red Star producing tribute liquor for the birth of New China and participating in the founding ceremony. They can also listen to the history of supporting suburban distilleries to produce Erguotou orally told by Red Star’s old expert Gao Jingyan.The Yuansheng Hao Museum offers a wealth of historical materials and exhibits that are open to the public. It operates all year round with specific hours: the first floor is accessible from 09:00 to 21:00, and the second floor from 10:00 to 18:00.
On the second floor, a new exhibition area dedicated to world spirits has been established, featuring six major distilled liquors from around the globe, including Chinese Baijiu. Visitors can explore the origins and representative products of these spirits within this dedicated space. Additionally, for those over 18 years old, a free wine tasting machine is available for sampling Red Star Gaozhao liquor by scanning a code.
This setup provides an engaging and educational experience for the audience, making the museum a must-visit destination for enthusiasts of spirits and cultural history.
