Hongta

From the dusty capital of Kunming, where boulevards are flanked by cigarette ads, you head south through the undulating tobacco fields to Yuxi, a town dominated by China's biggest and most profitable cigarette manufacturer, Yuxi Hongta.

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As if on a pilgrimage trail, visitors to the city of Yuxi in southwest China pose for photographs beside eight cigarette-like pillars and then in front of a hilltop red pagoda, instantly recognizable to most Chinese from the cigarette packets of the Hongta - or Red Pagoda - group.

NPR Topics: News 2011

As if on a pilgrimage trail, visitors to the city of Yuxi in southwest China pose for photographs beside eight cigarette-like pillars and then in front of a hilltop red pagoda, instantly recognizable to most Chinese from the cigarette packets of the Hongta - or Red Pagoda - group.

NPR Topics: News 2011

The Hongta factory in Yuxi is one of the world's largest, with an annual production of 93 billion cigarettes.

NPR Topics: News 2011

The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration turned down a request for an interview, as did the Hongta group itself.

NPR Topics: News 2011

In particular, one cigarette brand, Hongta, now owned by the Hongyun group, is responsible for this town's wealth.

NPR Topics: News 2011

The eight cigarette-shaped pillars are seen outside the headquarters of Yuxi's Hongta group.

NPR Topics: News 2011

NPR The eight cigarette-shaped pillars are seen outside the headquarters of Yuxi's Hongta group.

NPR Topics: News 2011

Yuxi has a Hongta avenue, a Hongta hotel, a Hongta sports stadium - and even a tobacco culture museum devoted to extolling the pleasures of smoking.

NPR Topics: News 2011

The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration turned down a request for an interview, as did the Hongta group itself.

NPR Topics: News 2011