Jianlibao was established as a state-owned sports beverage maker in the early 1980s; its drinks, used by national sports teams, were called China’s magic water for the role they were believed to play in their athletes’ success. In the early 1990s, it was the top soft-drink company in China, and its brands were best-sellers on a par with Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
History
Jianlibao was the first soda pop created in communist China and made its debut as the official drink of the Chinese team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The name translates in English as "healty, strong, treasure" or "a treasure to strengthen health". With sponsorships of sports teams and marketing as an energy drink, Jianlibao became the most popular Chinese soft drink in the 1990s.
