OREANDA-NEWS. On 22 December 2008 was announced, that this year the city of Sanya located on the island of Hainan will be offering its visitors not only its unique climate — summer in the middle of winter — but also the first beer festival in its history. The international beer festival will run in the South of China on 19 December - 3 January and will be the only winter beer festival in China.

At the first Hainan Beer Festival, the Baltika exhibition space will occupy 800 sq.m. Here visitors will be able to sample all varieties from the Baltika line-up and enjoy an entertainment programme with contests and prizes. The price of 0.5 litres of Baltika beer at the Hainan Beer Festival will be around 26 Yuan (2.5 Euro).

Baltika was the first Russian brewer to begin shipping beer to China in 2004 and today it is the only exporter of the foamy beverage from Russia to the PRC. The name of the Baltika brand in Chinese sounds like "Bolodikhai Pitszu," which in translation means "Beer from the Baltic Sea."

During the first 9 months of 2008, Baltika Breweries sold more than 1 million litres of beer in China, which is three times more than for the first 9 months of 2007. The main sales volume goes to Beijing and the provinces of Shandung, Shensi, Haluntsian and Hainan. Among the most popular varieties with Chinese beer lovers are Baltika №7, with more than 36% of sales volume, followed by Baltika №3 (17%) and Baltika №5 (16%).

In 2008, the Company has already taken part in two national beer festivals in the PRC — in Dalian and in Harbin. Baltika beer was also the exclusive beer at the Russian House during the Olympic Games.

The island of Hainan is located in the South China Sea. Due to its remoteness, it remained on the sidelines of the Chinese economic boom for nearly half a century. But 10 years ago changes came to practically untouched Hainan: foreign and Chinese investments literally ‘awakened’ the city of Sanya from centuries of slumber. Its snow white beaches were given the name "Hawaii of the East." The Miss World competition was held three times in the resorts of Sanya. Leading companies from around the world arrange seminars and conferences here. The island is especially popular in the winter, given that the Hainan winter means a warm sea (25°C) and air temperature of 28°C. Sanya has become the number 3 maritime city in China to hold a beer festival, following the northern city of Dalian and the eastern city of Tsindao.