In the early 1950s, the size of the wooden crates used for packaging Maotai liquor changed from 5 bottles per crate to 30 bottles per crate, and then to 25 bottles per crate in a square wooden box. In May 1955, Maotai liquor for export was packaged in crates of 30 bottles, while domestic sales continued with 25 bottles per crate, later changed to 20 bottles per crate. Straw and rice husks were used as filler between the bottom of the crate and the bottles to prevent squeezing, crushing, shock, and collisions during transportation.
In the early 1960s, to conform to international packaging practices, each crate was changed from 20 bottles to 24 bottles, and the ends of the wooden crates were reinforced with 10mm sheet metal.
In 1973, the straw filling was discontinued for Maotai liquor packaging. The outer wooden crate was replaced with a cardboard box, and the inner packaging changed from paper-wrapped bottles to colored boxes. The filler material inside the crate was changed from straw and rice husks to corrugated cardboard, and the number of bottles per crate was reduced to 12. The reasons for changing from wooden crates to cardboard boxes included a more aesthetically pleasing packaging design, reduced transport weight, and savings in timber.
