Wine bar helps connect Xi'an, Italy

Qu Peifeng and Wang Dan, both born in the 90s in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, operate an Italian wine bar in the city called MIX (meaning made in Xi’an).

Wang specializes in cultural tourism and majored in English, while Qu is an avid wine-lover and majored in grape and wine engineering.

Qu Peifeng chooses red wine at an Italian wine bar called MIX in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

When speaking of the Italian wine bar, Qu said about his Italian friend, "He is obsessed with Chinese culture, and he is even more proud of the wines made in his hometown. With his encouragement, I came up with the idea to promote Italian wine and food here."

Qu's idea is in line with Wang's. "I used to work in cultural tourism, and I often met foreigners from various countries. I found that Italians are very interested in Xi'an's culture and are always asking about it. But most of them don't know much about Xi'an," Wang said.

Although Chang'an and Rome are thousands of miles away, in Wang and Qu's view, the lifestyles, people, and culture of the two places have a lot in common.

Wang Dan puts up Italian postcards and souvenirs at the wine bar in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

Xi'an locals love to eat cooked wheaten food, while Italians' favorite pasta and pizza are all wheat processed. The drinking culture of Italians is also quite similar to that of Xi'an.

In addition to MIX, the two also run a winery and a cultural media company together.

When the COVID-19 pandemic eases, we will organize China-Italian exchange activities such as wine tasting sessions.

In December 2020, the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade and the Cultural Office of the Italian Embassy in China awarded the China-Europe (Italy) Cultural and Economic Exchange Base to the winery run by Qu and Wang.

The two have also won the title of "Italian wine promotion ambassador in China".