Liu Zixia (middle), vice head of Qingxu county in Shanxi province receives the plaque for "the vinegar capital of China" from the National Light Industry Science and Technology Innovation and Development Conference on Saturday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingxu county in Shanxi province was named "the vinegar capital of China" during the National Light Industry Science and Technology Innovation and Development Conference on Saturday, local government said.

"It is the highest honor for the vinegar industry across the country, and Qingxu is so named for its long history and high-quality vinegar production," Liu Zixia, vice head of the county said after he received the plaque. "It can strengthen our determination and confidence to make the Shanxi vinegar industry bigger and stronger."

Workers in the plant of a vinegar manufacturing enterprise in Qingxu county in Shanxi province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu said Shanxi's and the nation's vinegar industries originated in Qingxu, with a history of about 2,500 years.

The county has 81 vinegar manufacturing enterprises, with an annual output of 700,000 metric tons, accounting for about 80 percent of Shanxi's and nearly 30 percent of China's total vinegar output.

The county is home to two nationally and 14 provincially well-known trademarks in the edible vinegar industry. Local enterprises have developed more than 200 product varieties that are being sold across China and in more than 20 foreign countries and regions.