Qingxu county in North China's Shanxi province was recently recognized as China's "vinegar capital" by the China National Light Industry Council and the National Food Management Center of China Light Industry. 

The announcement of the title was a milestone for Shanxi's industrial development of the vinegar industry.

A birthplace of Shanxi-style mature vinegar, Qingxu county boasts more than 2,500 years of vinegar production history. Qingxu mature vinegar ranks first among the four most famous vinegar varieties in China with its black and purple color, fragrant smell and dynamic flavor profile. In May 2006, Qingxu mature vinegar's brewing techniques were included on the national intangible cultural heritage list. 

The vinegar industry has expanded in the county in recent years. Qingxu county currently has had 45 vinegar production companies, cultivated two well-known Chinese vinegar trademarks, 14 famous vinegar trademarks in Shanxi and five famous provincial vinegar brands. 

The annual output of vinegar in Qingxu is 700,000 metric tons, accounting for more than 80 percent of Shanxi's total production and nearly 30 percent of the country's total, making the county the country's largest vinegar production base. 

Qingxu will take advantage of this recognition to build a food industry cluster featuring vinegar and promote the construction of a Chinese vinegar cultural town. The county will also achieve an annual industrial production capacity of 1 million tons of vinegar and an annual industrial output value of 10 billion yuan ($1.55 billion) within three to five years. 

It will also organize more vinegar-themed cultural festivals, creative cultural events, and forums to further its profile as China's "vinegar capital".