YINCHUAN - The wine industry in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region will see major development in the next few years.

According to the administrative committee that manages the region's biggest vineyards, Ningxia will grow 700,000 mu (46,667 hectares) of grapes by 2020, with 600,000 mu intended for wine making.

The vineyards will produce about 200 million bottles of wine annually, bringing in at least 1 million tourists.

The wine industry in Ningxia, an oasis in the typically dry north, has undergone huge development over the past 30 years, particularly in the foothills of Helan Mountain.

The foothills are a perfect location for growing grapes. The soil is rich and the area gets about 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, with annual rainfall of less than 200 milliliters. The area is located more than 1,100 meters above sea level and the Yellow River can easily be harnessed for irrigation.

Currently, about 610,000 mu of grapes are being grown in Ningxia, with about 530,000 mu for wine making, making it the largest region for grape cultivation in China.