Global 'ganbei!' planned for August celebration of baijiu

Its effect on non-Chinese has been described as "deadly powerful - exploding on the nose and palate, and packing the same alcoholic punch as a prizefighter". But fans of baijiu, China's popular white spirit, are convinced it has a place on the shelves of bars around the world, and they hope to be proved right on Aug 8.

That's the date for World Baijiu Day, a series of events designed to show drinkers everywhere how to enjoy the world's most-consumed alcoholic beverage, says Jim Boyce, the Beijing wine and nightlife blogger who is organizing the event.

Baijiu is little-known abroad, Boyce says, but that is starting to change.