It began to plant American tobacco in 1914, soon after the world tobacco industry came into being. In 1939, a kind of tobacco called “Jinyuan” from America was successfully planted in China. In 1953, the International Tobacco Conference was held in Xuchang of Henan Province. At the conference, Yunnan tobacco was highly applauded for its golden color, fragrant aroma, mild effect and pure taste. From then on, tobacco has been planted in Yunnan on a large scale. And Yunnan is reputed as “the Hometown of Yunnan tobacco” for its excellent quality. Yunnan tobacco is a raw material for the tobacco industry in Yunnan. In addition, it has been exported and also applied as ingredients for the tobacco industry within the rest of China.

Yuxi Municipality is a key base of Yunnan flue-cured tobacco and cigarette production with its favorable conditions, such as temperature, sunshine, water and soil for tobacco growth. With its increasing production, Yuxi Cigarette Factory has been the largest backbone industry as well as the principal income industry of Yunnan Province. At the same time it plays an important role in the national tobacco industry. It has maintained its first positions in the aspects of the number of famous brands, total output, sales volume, position of market, export exchange earning, tariff and facilities and technology. In 1995, the amount of flue-cured tobacco made up 1/3 of the total and tariff made up 1/2 of the total national tobacco industry. Therefore, Yuxi is entitled “the Kingdom of Tobacco”.

Hongta Tobacco Group Ltd

Hongta Tobacco Group Ltd uses the Red Tower as its symbol. The famous Yuxi Cigarette Factory ranks the first in Asia and the third in the world among its peers and is regarded as a symbol of China’s industry. In December 2001, “Hongtashan” once again ranked first among the valuable and famous brands in China, the seventh time in this successive competition with a brand value of RMB 460 billion. Along the Hongta-industry-oriented Tourist Route, the magnificent Office Building of Hongta Group Ltd, Science and Technology Building, the modernized Cut-tobacco Production Lines, the Eco-forest Parkland, and the Tobacco Museum are still under construction. All this forms the center of Chinese tobacco culture, the most modernized charming scenic spot in Yuxi Municipality.