In late autumn, the land of Wuxi is covered with layers of colored forests, and the branches are laden with ripe fruits.
At dawn, the Jingzhou Poria Trade Market opened its doors to welcome customers. Workers swiftly unloaded and stacked baskets of fresh poria from trucks. Procurement groups quickly gathered, with voices of inspecting goods and inquiring prices rising and falling. The sleepy town was “awakened” by the bustling transactions.
In the fields, machines roared as the harvest of genuine medicinal herbs like Polygonatum and Gastrodia arrived. The herbal farmers bent over, busily removing dirt, sorting, and packing the freshly dug herbs, with joy of the autumn harvest shining on every face.
In the industrial park not far away, newly introduced projects are advancing vigorously, continuously injecting new momentum into the extension of the traditional Chinese medicine industry chain.
Huaihua, located between the Wuling and Xuefeng mountain ranges, is a major production area for both wild and cultivated medicinal herbs in southern China. It has long been renowned as the “Hometown of Genuine Chinese Medicinal Herbs.”
In recent years, Huaihua has established the traditional Chinese medicine industry as one of the city’s five major leading industries and three distinctive industrial clusters. Through systematic planning and focused development, the industry has continuously diversified, extending from “Traditional Chinese Medicine+Catering” to “Traditional Chinese Medicine+Culture and Tourism” and “Traditional Chinese Medicine+Health and Wellness,” gradually forging a new path of integrated development featuring a full industrial chain and multiple business formats.
Fertile soil yields gold, and the good medicine stems from living springs
Amid the misty mountains of Jigongpo Village in Luyang Town, Zhongfang County, the fragrance of medicinal herbs lingers. At this critical stage of Gastrodia elata growth, workers navigate through the forest, meticulously inspecting the progress of the soon-to-be abundant harvest.
“Gastrodia elata is delicate, demanding stringent temperature and humidity conditions. Fortunately, the Xuefeng Mountains provide it with the perfect home,” said Zhou Ximei, general manager of Huaihua Wuxi Jinlu Agricultural Technology Development Co., Ltd., revealing the secret to its quality. Located in Jigongpo Village at an altitude of over 800 meters, the cultivation of Gastrodia elata there involves no pesticides, fertilizers, or excessive care. The resulting tubers boast gastrodine content far exceeding national standards, forging the prestigious brand “Xuefeng Mountain Gastrodia.”
“Good medicine comes from good herbs.” This simple old saying captures the essence of millennia of pharmaceutical practice.
As the “Hometown of Genuine Chinese Medicinal Herbs,” Huaihua is located in one of the nine ecologically sound regions of China. Nestled against the towering Xuefeng Mountains and facing the winding Wushui River, its unique natural environment and climatic conditions jointly foster the production of high-quality genuine medicinal herbs.
With its unique ecological advantages, Huaihua boasts abundant medicinal herb resources, hosting 2,340 species of medicinal herbs, ranking first in the province in terms of reserves. Among them, 23 varieties are included in the “List of Genuine Medicinal Herbs of Hunan Province,” accounting for 65.7% of the province’s total. The excellent mountains and waters produce high-quality herbs, serving as the enduring source of vitality for Huaihua’s traditional Chinese medicine industry.
To safeguard the “lifeblood of the source” in the traditional Chinese medicine industry, it is essential not only to establish standards and regulations but also to rely on the support of technological wisdom.
In this process, the internationalization and industrialization of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum stood out particularly. In 2020, the workstation of Academician Liu Liang was established in Huaihua, becoming the first academician workstation in China’s field of rheumatology and immunology.
In 2022, under the leadership and promotion of Academician Liu Liang, his team, in collaboration with Hunan Zhengqing Group, officially released the ISO international standard for Sarcandra glabra, marking a significant breakthrough for Huaihua in the field of international standardization of Chinese medicinal materials.
As a key practice in this process, Zhengqing Group was selected as one of the first GAP demonstration construction units for medicinal herbs in Hunan Province this April, based on two major varieties—Cynanchum and Lonicera. This marked a crucial step toward standardized cultivation.
Currently, guided by ISO international standards, the group has established a comprehensive industrial chain system for Tetrastigma hemsleyanum, encompassing “science, agriculture, industry, commerce, and medicine.” Its ISO-standard Tetrastigma hemsleyanum seed and seedling base in Mayang has been completed, featuring a germplasm resource, seedling nursery, and experimental demonstration base, with a high-quality seedling scale reaching 1 million plants.
“We have reached an agreement with countries such as Egypt and Pakistan on the specialized chain operation of Zhengqing Fengtong Ning pain medication. Through the Hunan-Jiangxi-Guangdong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medicine Full Industrial Chain Alliance and Huaihua International Land Port, we aim to establish overseas routes to ASEAN, Belt and Road countries, and other regions, benefiting more rheumatism patients worldwide,” said Wu Feichi, chairman and president of Hunan Zhengqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.
From “a single grass” to “a chain,” Huaihua is transforming its ecological advantages into industrial strengths.
To this end, Huaihua has taken measures to ensure quality at the source, strengthening the material foundation for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine. By championing ecological cultivation, the Huaihua Municipal People’s Government, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences’ Center for Chinese Herbal Resources, jointly issued the “Huaihua Declaration on Ecological Cultivation of Chinese Herbal Medicines.” They also formulated the “Technical Standards for Ecological Cultivation of Chinese Herbal Medicines in Huaihua” and compiled the “Guidelines for Ecological Cultivation of Chinese Herbal Medicines in Huaihua” and the “Herbal Flora Atlas of Huaihua Ecological Cultivation.” These efforts have significantly advanced the ecological cultivation of Chinese herbal medicines, establishing Huaihua as a benchmark in the industry for ecological, high-quality, and safe herbal products, thereby enhancing the core competitiveness of the Chinese herbal medicine industry.
In 2024, the total planting area of medicinal herbs (including wild cultivation) in the city reached 1.511 million mu, with 987,000 mu being artificially cultivated, firmly ranking first in the province. There were 61 contiguous bases spanning over 1,000 mu, forming a thriving “Green Herbland.”
From “deep mountain herbs” to “golden branches and jade leaves,” from “nurtured in seclusion” to “sailing into the sea afar,” Huaihua is vigorously implementing a brand strategy, with the golden reputation of the “Chinese Southern Herbal Valley” rising powerfully:
“Chinese Southern Herbal Valley——Huaihua, Hunan,” as the sole representative of China’s medicinal herb industry, made an appearance at the “Splendid China” themed exhibition in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square;
The “Chinese Southern Herbal Valley” shines at the Hong Kong International Traditional Chinese Medicine Expo, with Huaihua’s health products enjoying widespread popularity.
“Huaihua Polygonatum” has been selected for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ “Rural Revitalization Empowerment Plan.”
The new book “The Hometown of Shennong and the Land of Medicinal Herb” has been published, laying a solid foundation for the cultural roots of the industry.
Xinhuang Polygonatum has been designated as a product by the Embassy of Madagascar in China, and Jingzhou Poria cocos deep processed products won the gold medal at the Panama Pacific International Expo.
The Iqbal Academy of Sciences Research Station has been established in Huaihua, adding a significant stroke to the overseas development of traditional Chinese medicine.
Attracting major and strong enterprises to gather momentum along the industrial chain
In this July, the Xinhuang Polygonatum Investment Promotion Conference was held in Bangkok, Thailand, attracting the attention of numerous local enterprises and securing sales orders worth 92 million yuan. This event served as a crucial bridge for Xinhuang Polygonatum to enter the Thai market and even the market of broader ASEAN.
This confidence stems from quality—Xinhuang Polygonatum extract contains 70.9% extractives, with polysaccharide content reaching up to 27.7%, far exceeding the standards of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. It has long enjoyed an outstanding reputation in the domestic market.
However, high-quality medicinal herbs are not inherently a thriving industry.
Once upon a time, due to a lack of leading enterprises, crude processing, and a short industrial chain, Huaihua’s genuine medicinal herbs fell into the dilemma of “high quality but low price.”
How to break through and transform resource endowments into development momentum?
Huaihua Responds with “Attracting Major and Strong Enterprises”—Focusing on the province’s “4×4” modern industrial system layout, it designates traditional Chinese medicine as one of the five leading industries and three distinctive clusters. By targeting top-tier enterprises and industry leaders, it proactively engages in precise matchmaking to drive comprehensive upgrades in industrial chains.
Leading the dragon means introducing fresh water; strengthening the chain is essential to gathering industries.
Huaihua has established a new investment promotion framework characterized by “mayoral leadership, coordinated industry chain offices, multi-department collaboration, and park-driven initiatives.” Leveraging its rich medicinal herb resources, the city has scientifically compiled investment promotion manuals and implemented targeted, door-to-door, and business-led investment strategies, successfully attracting a group of leading enterprises to settle.
With the continuous entry of renowned enterprises such as Guangdong Pharmaceutical Group, Xiu Corporation, Huarun Sanjiu, Shanghai Pharmaceuticals, China National Farming Corporation, and Sinopharm, the “chain effect” is becoming increasingly prominent, accelerating the formation and sustained vitality of the traditional Chinese medicine industry cluster.
Going global is a broad-mindedness and inviting displays sincerity.
Zhengqing Group, Huarun Group, and the Hong Kong Center for the Entire Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry signed a cooperation agreement and reached a collaborative agreement with Guangzhou Shouchuang TCM Trading Platform and the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre.
A batch of tangible projects is being implemented:
Beijing Jingchengyuan Hall plans to invest 220 million yuan in the comprehensive development of Epimedium in Huitong.
Suzhou Shengji Pharmaceutical invested 200 million yuan in building a Dongyubao production line.
Fujian Longke Valley Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. invested 200 million yuan in Xinhuang to develop a series of small-molecule peptide products from Polygonatum odoratum.
Currently, there are 48 projects under negotiation citywide, with a total intended investment of 3.07 billion yuan.
Projects are the engine, and investment is the driving force. Currently, there are 74 projects under construction in the traditional Chinese medicine industry chain, with investments totaling 850 million yuan completed in the first half of this year.
The logistics phase II of China National Pharmaceutical Group, New Longyuan Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Jinshang Environmental Protection Traditional Chinese Medicine decoction piece processing projects have made rapid progress and have been basically completed.
The revised pharmaceutical biopharmaceutical project has been officially put into operation.
Litai Pharmaceutical Sales Company has opened and its factory construction is steadily advancing.
The investment of 40 million yuan for the integration project of Fuling tertiary industry in BuTian Pharmaceutical has been completed, and processing households have gradually settled in.
Huairen Ecological Health Elderly Care Industrial Park is accelerating its construction
A string of numbers is the most concrete footnote to the “strengthening tendons and bones” of Huaihua’s traditional Chinese medicine industry chain, and it is also the hardcore confidence for future development.
Integration of tertiary industries, crossing boundaries and exploring new paths
The key to the integration of the tertiary industry lies in the word ‘integration’. The same goes for local specialties. Relying solely on “old capital” cannot go afar. Innovation is necessary to break out of the circle of “raw materials” and make greater achievements.
On September 16, the first “Huaiwei Longevity Tonic Diet” Chef King Competition in Hunan Province showed a new achievement—a set of “Huaiwei Longevity Tonic Diet” following the 24 solar terms, turning the health wisdom of “nourishing the liver in spring, the heart in summer, the lungs in autumn, and the kidney in winter” into a seasonal food that can be seen and tasted.
The black bone chicken is braised with astragalus and gastrodia elata, duck with yellow essence and blood cake, mutton stewed with gastrodia elata and polygonatum odoratum... The chefs have come up with their own skills, and a variety of Tonic Diet products with good color, fragrance and taste have attracted repeated praise from the diners. Jingzhou tuckahoe stewed hoof blossom, Huaihua Huangjing Xuefeng black bone chicken and other Huaiwei Tonic Diet entered Beijing Xinhua News Agency and other official canteens.
The increasing popularity of “traditional Chinese medicine+catering” has also brought new business opportunities to the traditional Chinese medicine industry.
On September 12, Huaihua Medicinal and Food Homologous Products and “Huaiwei Longevity Tonic Diet” Promotion Center were opened. Walking into the first floor, there is a dazzling array of local delicacies: Jingzhou Poria Ding, Xinhuang Huangjing Tea, Xuefengshan Tianma... There are hundreds of local delicacies to choose from. On the second floor, there is even more fragrance. Nearly 50 creative Tonic Diet, such as Huangjing Niusanbao, Gastrodia elata Stewed Fish Head, Poria Cocos Cake, have appeared, which are all health preserving dishes developed based on the old tradition and local medicinal materials.
“Promoting the establishment of Huaihua Food and Drug Homology Promotion Center aims to build a platform for the sales of Huaihua food and drug homologous products and the promotion of ‘Huaiwei Longevity Tonic Diet,’ promote the wisdom of health preservation of food and drug homology, and create a regional public brand of ‘Huaihua Longevity Tonic Diet’.” Luo Wenbiao, the executive deputy director of the Municipal Office of Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Chain, said that on the one hand, he hopes to expand sales channels for drug farmers and food and drug homologous production enterprises, so that producers can sell Tonic Diet ingredients and processed products at a good price. On the other hand, he hopes to provide consumer guidance for the general public, allowing them to purchase genuine and high-quality health products.
More down-to-earth is the popular Huaihua “Traditional Chinese Medicine Night Market” that has gained popularity. Whenever the lights come on, a faint medicinal fragrance wafts through the night market.
More than 20 stalls are lined up to see famous doctors, do physiotherapy, identify medicinal materials, and taste Tonic Diet... citizens can unlock a China-Chic “health care bureau” in a one-stop way by taking a stroll.
Huaihua cleverly integrates traditional Chinese medicine with tourism. At present, the city has built 8 provincial-level traditional Chinese medicine health tourism routes and 6 provincial-level experience bases. The Huangjing Cultural Industry Park in Xinhuang and the Huairen Ecological Health and Wellness Park in Hecheng District have become demonstration sites for industrial tourism.
From the manual labor of herb gatherers in the mountains to the roaring of machines in industrial parks, from the curling aroma of “Huaiwei Tonic Diet” to the warmth of fireworks in the TCM night market; from word-of-mouth in the domestic market to the influx of orders at ASEAN exhibitions, Huaihua’s traditional Chinese medicine industry is using ecology as a pen, innovation as ink, and industry as paper, painting a thriving picture of “from a grass to a chain, from a leaf to a cluster”.
(Translated by Tian Xia)