Craft beer brands set to establish operations in Guanshanhu

Guanshanhu district in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, is emerging as a new hub for China's craft beer industry, with multiple breweries planning to set up operations in the Guanshanhu Modern Service Industry Pilot Zone.

In recent years, local authorities have promoted the integration of culture, tourism, and the craft beer industry by organizing cultural events and helping local breweries expand their brand visibility and market reach.

During the 2025 China (Guizhou) International Alcoholic Beverages Expo, local brands such as Zoushan, Maizuo, Dasheng, and Hammer Craft showcased their signature brews. Hammer Craft drew attention with six specialty beers, leading to several new business partnerships.

The brand also gained visibility at the 2025 Guiyang City Football Invitational Tournament, where its booth became a popular gathering spot for fans. In September, Hammer Craft brought its Guizhou-inspired beers to Beijing and Hangzhou, where local consumers warmly received its products.

"Cross-industry collaboration is creating new possibilities," said Fan Jijin, brewmaster at Hammer Craft. "Rooted in Guanshanhu, we've developed unique brewing and fermentation processes to highlight Guizhou's local flavors, which are now winning market recognition".

The growing popularity of craft beer among young consumers, who favor creativity and local storytelling over uniform industrial brews, has opened new opportunities for partnerships across the food, beverage, and tourism sectors.

Focusing on fresh, unpasteurized craft beer, Century Craft plans to target medium and large-sized restaurant chains and entertainment venues, while utilizing local cultural events to build partnerships. The company has already entered talks with 10 potential clients and plans to open direct-sale stores and collaborate with night markets.

Wu noted that "China's craft beer market is growing at an annual rate of 16–18 percent, and with Guanshanhu's strong support, we're confident in our future here".

The Guanshanhu Modern Service Industry Pilot Zone is now developing a craft beer industry cluster as part of its eco-food strategy, aiming to make Guanshanhu a leading craft beer production base in Southwest China. As of Oct 20, the zone is in discussions with more than 20 breweries, with eight companies preparing to set up operations – including five that have already finalized factory locations.