A Brief Overview of the Regional Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources in China
Release Date:
2021-03-01
A Brief Overview of the Regional Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources in China
Northeastern cold-temperate and temperate zones
This region encompasses the provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin, part of Liaoning Province, and the northeastern portion of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Most of it falls within the humid and semi-humid zones of the cold temperate and temperate climates, making it an important forested area and a major medicinal herb-producing region in northern China. It is often referred to as the “Global Treasure Trove of Biological Resources.”
This region is home to more than 1,600 species of medicinal plants, over 300 species of medicinal animals, and more than 50 mineral-based medicinal materials. Medicinal plant resources include schisandra, ginseng, asarum, gastrodia, codonopsis, red peony root, cimicifuga, atractylodes, saposhnikovia, astragalus, gentian, licorice, geum, bupleurum, and scutellaria, among others. Medicinal animal resources comprise deer antler, hedgehog skin, musk, toad venom, and toad oil, among others.
Heilongjiang:
Wild medicinal materials : The eastern and southern regions are characterized by extensive mountainous terrain, with significant reserves found in Harbin (22%), Mudanjiang (19%), Yichun (15%), Suihua (11%), and Qiqihar (10%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : The eastern and southern regions are characterized by extensive mountainous terrain, with the highest production levels recorded in Mudanjiang (40%), Suihua (14%), Yichun (13%), and Harbin (11%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Contains ginseng, Acanthopanax, Ledebouriella, Phellodendron, Rhododendron, Schisandra, Astragalus, Gentian, Atractylodes, Bupleurum, Red Peony Root, Anemarrhena, Plantain Seed, Burdock Seed, Toad Oil, Deer Antler, and Bear Bile, among others.
Jilin:
Wild medicinal materials : Most of these reserves are located in the eastern low mountain and hilly region, with the largest reserves found in Jilin City (51%), Baishan City (21%), and Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (14%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : Most of the production is concentrated in the eastern low mountain and hilly region, with the largest shares coming from Baishan (32%), Yanbian Prefecture (26%), Tonghua (17%), Jilin City (10%), and Ji’an City (9%).
Bulk medicinal materials It is the main production area for ginseng, deer antler velvet, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Asarum, Schisandra, and Aristolochia manshuriensis, among others, and also produces Phellodendron bark, Platycodon root, Codonopsis, Eleutherococcus, Saposhnikovia, Paeonia lactiflora, Astragalus, turtle shell oil, and bear bile, among others.
Liaoning
Wild medicinal materials : The cities with the largest reserves are Fushun (21%), Benxi (13%), Jinzhou (13%), Tieling (12%), and Chaoyang (11%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : The cities with the largest output are Fushun (32%), Benxi (28%), and Dandong (17%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Contains ginseng, schisandra, asarum, eleutherococcus, aristolochia, atractylodes, gentian, scutellaria, and dictamnus bark, among others.
North China Warm Temperate Zone
This region encompasses Liaodong, Shandong, the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, the lower Liao River Plain, the Loess Plateau in the west, and the northern Hebei mountainous area. It is rich in traditional Chinese medicinal resources, with a wide variety of species and high yields. The extensive plains offer substantial potential for medicinal herb production and support advanced production practices. The region is home to more than 1,500 species of medicinal plants, over 500 species of medicinal animals, and more than 30 mineral-based medicinal materials.
The North China Plain in this region comprises the extensive alluvial plain formed by the combined deposition of rivers such as the Haihe, Yellow River, and Huai River, as well as the Liaohe Plain. It is a major agricultural production base and the primary source of cultivated medicinal herbs in China. Commonly cultivated medicinal plants include Rehmannia, Honeysuckle, Achyranthes, Forsythia, Dioscorea, and White Peony, among others.
The plant-based medicinal materials in this region include kelp, laminaria, honeysuckle, vitex, trichosanthes fruit, cyperus rotundus, northern adenosma, astragalus, ephedra, ledebouriella, scutellaria, epimedium, agrimonia, polygonatum, polygonatum odoratum, bupleurum, sanguisorba, codonopsis, and polygala, among others. The animal-based medicinal materials include donkey-hide gelatin, bezoar, whole scorpion, hedgehog skin, earthworm, blister beetle, five-spirit fat, oyster shell, and seahorse, among others.
Inner Mongolia
Wild medicinal materials : The largest reserves are found in Ordos City in the western part of the region, accounting for approximately 40% of the total; in the eastern part, the greatest concentrations are in Hulunbuir City on the western side of the Greater Khingan Range (30%) and Chifeng City (12%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : The concentration is primarily in the Hetao Plain of the Yellow River and the hilly regions to the east, with Baotou City accounting for the largest share at 50% of the total; followed by Bayannur City (15%), Hohhot City (13%), and Ulanqab City (11%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Astragalus, Goji berries, Licorice, Ephedra, Cistanche, Saposhnikovia, Red Peony Root, Scutellaria, Prunus Armeniaca Seed, Cynomorium, Bupleurum, Polygala, Anemarrhena, Atractylodes, Gentian, Farfara Flower, Deer Antler Velvet, and Dragon Bone, among others.
Hebei
Wild medicinal materials : The northern and western mountainous areas account for the majority, with Chengde holding the largest reserves at 32% of the provincial total, followed by Zhangjiakou at 24%, Qinhuangdao at 13%, and Baoding at 12%.
Cultivated medicinal materials Production is concentrated in the hilly and plain regions of central and southern Hebei Province, with Baoding accounting for 40% of the province’s annual output. Anguo County in this region is not only a traditional hub for the collection and distribution of medicinal materials but also a long-established area for their cultivation. The cities of Shijiazhuang, Handan, Xingtai, and Hengshui each contribute more than 10% of the province’s annual output as well.
Bulk varieties : The varieties with relatively large production volumes include Isatis root, Astragalus, Chrysanthemum, Glehnia root, Salvia, Angelica dahurica, Chinese yam, Aster, Trichosanthes root, Goji berries, Scutellaria, Ziziphus seed, Anemarrhena, Bupleurum, whole scorpion, and earthworm, among others.
Shanxi
Wild medicinal materials Located on the Loess Plateau, the region features both mountainous areas and basins, with relatively little variation in their spatial distribution. The cities with the largest wild resource reserves are Linfen (16%), Xinzhou (15%), Lüliang (13%), and Datong (11%), while Jinzhong and Changzhi each account for approximately 10%.
Cultivated medicinal materials : The southern region primarily cultivates bulk varieties such as Rehmannia and Chinese yam, while the northern region focuses on cultivating Astragalus. The major production centers include Yuncheng (30%), Xinzhou (16%), Linfen (12%), Datong (11%), and Changzhi City (10%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Codonopsis pilosula, Astragalus membranaceus, Farfarae Flos, Forsythia suspensa, Bupleurum chinense, Scutellaria baicalensis, Polygala tenuifolia, Anemarrhenae rhizoma, Ziziphus jujuba seed, Ephedra sinica, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Cervi Cornu and Dragon’s Bone, among others.
Shandong
Wild medicinal materials : The central hilly region accounts for a relatively large share, with Linyi (27%), Yantai (25%), and Zibo (18%) holding the largest reserves.
Cultivated medicinal materials : Concentrated mainly in the Yimeng Mountains and the Jiaodong Peninsula, with Linyi accounting for 40% of the total output and Weifang City accounting for 13%.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes honeysuckle, northern ginseng, prince’s ginseng, trichosanthes fruit, vitex berry, sour jujube seed, Chinese cypress seed, costus root, polygala, scutellaria, aristolochia, soapberry, whole scorpion, toad venom, earth beetle, hedgehog skin, oyster shell, cuttlebone, and seaweed, among others.
Henan
Wild medicinal materials : The majority are concentrated in the Zhongtiao Mountains, Taihang Mountains, Tongbai Mountains, and Dabie Mountains regions, with the largest reserves found in Sanmenxia City (50%), Luoyang City (17%), and Xinyang (10%).
Cultivated medicinal materials Production is mainly concentrated in the Yellow River alluvial plain and the Nanyang Basin, with Jiaozuo City accounting for 35%, Nanyang for 15%, and Sanmenxia City for 11%. Among them, the counties under Jiaozuo City—Wushi, Wen County, Qinyang, and Bo’ai—are the primary production areas of the renowned “Four Great Huai Medicinals.”
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Rehmannia root, Achyranthes root, Chinese yam, chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, cornelian cherry, forsythia fruit, magnolia flower, cat’s claw herb, safflower, bupleurum, polygala, scutellaria, sour jujube seed, whole scorpion, earthworm, and turtle shell, among others.
Subtropical Regions of Central and East China
This region encompasses the vast subtropical eastern areas of East and Central China, situated on the lowest of China’s three topographic steps. It is characterized primarily by low mountains and rolling hills, with a dense network of lakes, a warm and humid climate featuring mild winters and hot summers, and distinct four seasons. The area harbors an abundance of aquatic and hygrophytic medicinal plants as well as corresponding medicinal animals. Wild medicinal resources are widely distributed and abundant in quantity, while cultivated medicinal materials are of high quality and plentiful in supply. This region serves as the production base for such authentic Chinese medicinal materials as “Zhejiang medicines,” “Jiangnan medicines,” and certain “Southern medicines.” It is home to more than 2,500 species of medicinal plants, over 300 species of medicinal animals, and approximately 50 species of mineral-based medicinal substances.
The mid- and lower-reach plain region of the Yangtze River in this area encompasses the Jianghan Plain, the Dongting Lake Plain, the Poyang Lake Plain, the Yangtze River–adjacent plains of Jiangsu and Anhui, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Lixiahe Plain. Lakes are scattered throughout the region, and aquatic vegetation is abundant, including lotus, Euryale ferox, and sweet flag. In the hilly areas, wild medicinal plants include Salvia miltiorrhiza, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Achyranthes bidentata, Stemona tuberosa, and Polygonum multiflorum.
This region is primarily an alluvial plain dedicated to agricultural cultivation, with a favorable climate and fertile soil, making it suitable for the cultivation of a wide variety of medicinal herbs. In fact, as many as 1,000 species of medicinal plants are cultivated in areas such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Mount Huangshan alone. The main varieties include Rehmannia root, Chinese yam, Aconitum carmichaelii, Curcuma wenyujin, white peony root, tree peony bark, Atractylodes macrocephala, peppermint, Corydalis yanhusuo, lily bulb, asparagus root, chrysanthemum flower, safflower, angelica root, and patchouli, among others.
The plant resources of this region include cornel, Chinese juniper, Lindera, poria, magnolia bark, evodia, papaya, hook vine, eucommia, ginkgo, large bloodvine, bamboo leaf, peucedanum, platycodon, Zhejiang fritillary bulb, alisma, honeysuckle, glehnia root, codonopsis, chuanxiong, ledebouriella, achyranthes, and psoralea, among others. The animal resources comprise pearl, toad venom, earthworm, turtle shell, tortoise shell, silkworm pupa, centipede, leech, and cicada slough, among others.
Jiangsu
Wild medicinal materials : The areas with relatively large reserves include Nanjing (22%), Nantong (14%), Huaiyin (11%), and Zhenjiang (11%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : Most of it is produced in northern Jiangsu, with Nantong accounting for 33%, Yangzhou for 18%, and Yancheng for 15%.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes peppermint, codonopsis pilosula, corydalis, fritillaria thunbergii, pseudostellaria heterophylla, prunella vulgaris, juncus effusus, toad venom, rat snake, turtle shell, soft-shelled turtle shell, and pearl, among others.
Anhui
Wild medicinal materials : The southern Anhui low mountains and hills, as well as the Dabie Mountain area, are relatively abundant in reserves, with Xuanzhou accounting for 26%, Anqing for 19%, Chaohu for 10%, Lu’an for 10%, Chuzhou for 10%, and Wuhu for 10%.
Cultivated medicinal materials : Concentrated mainly in the Huaibei Plain region, with Fuyang accounting for the largest share—60% of the province’s total.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Poria, White Peony Root, Moutan Bark, Chrysanthemum, Papaya, Platycodon, Isatis Root, Aster, Prince Ginseng, Chinese Angelica, Agkistrodon acutus, Centipede, Turtle Shell, and Soft-shelled Turtle Shell, among others.
Zhejiang
Wild medicinal materials : Primarily concentrated in the Tianmu Mountain, Yandang Mountain, and Siming Mountain regions, with the largest reserves found in Hangzhou (38%), Lishui (11%), and Shaoxing (9%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : This is most prevalent in the northeastern region, primarily concentrated in the Jin–Qu Basin, the Hang–Jia–Hu Plain, and the low mountainous and hilly areas of eastern Zhejiang. The major producing areas include Jinhua (20%), Jiaxing (16%), Shaoxing (11%), and Dongyang (9%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Fritillaria thunbergii, Atractylodes macrocephala, Corydalis yanhusuo, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ophiopogon japonicus, Paeonia lactiflora, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Curcuma wenyujin, Magnolia officinalis, Cornus officinalis, Peucedanum praeruptorum, Luffa sponge, Scolopendra, Agkistrodon acutus, and Sepia officinalis, among others.
Fujian
Wild medicinal materials : These are predominantly distributed across major mountainous regions, with the largest reserves found in Sanming (25%), Ningde (17%), Nanping (13%), Zhangzhou (11%), and Longyan (12%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : Production is mainly concentrated in the southeastern hilly regions, with Quanzhou accounting for 24%, Zhangzhou for 30%, and Nanping for 9%.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Alisma, lotus seeds, black plum, magnolia bark, pseudoginseng, Andrographis, tangerine peel, Hedyotis diffusa, indigo naturalis, Qishen snake, golden-ringed snake, and oyster, among others.
Jiangxi
Wild medicinal materials : These are predominantly found in mountainous areas such as Huaiyu Mountain, Mufu Mountain, Jinggang Mountain, and Dayu Ridge, with the largest reserves located in Shangrao (29%), Jiujiang (24%), Ganzhou (22%), and Ji’an (11%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : The production is mainly concentrated in the central plain and hilly regions, with Jiujiang accounting for 26%, Yichun for 23%, Ji’an for 12%, and Fuzhou for 11%.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Fructus Aurantii (the fruit), Gardenia, Plantago seeds, Elsholtzia, Vitex, Schizonepeta, Peppermint, Peucedanum, Herba Cimicifugae, Black-boned Chicken, Mother-of-Pearl, Turtle Shell, Soft-shelled Turtle Shell, and the Golden Snake, among others.
Hubei
Wild medicinal materials : The regions with the highest concentrations include Wudang Mountain, Tongbai Mountain, Wushan, and Dabie Mountain, with the largest reserves found in Shiyan (31%), Xiangfan (18%), and Enshi (14%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : The region is characterized by low- and mid-elevation basins, as well as extensive hilly and plain areas; the major production centers are Enshi (28%), Huanggang (19%), and Xiangfan (17%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Poria, Coptis, Magnolia Bark, Eucommia, Angelica Pubescens, Dipsacus, Atractylodes, Belamcanda, Scrophularia, Xanthium, Tremella, Papaya, Ophiopogon, Centipede, Whole Scorpion, Turtle Shell, Soft-shelled Turtle Shell, Black Rat Snake, and Hubei Pit Viper, among others.
Hunan
Wild medicinal materials : The Xiangxi Wuling Mountain Area, the Xiangzhong Hilly Region, and the Xiangnan Nanling Mountain Area are particularly rich in such resources, with the largest reserves found in Xiangxi Prefecture (18%), Zhangjiajie (13%), Shaoyang (13%), Changsha (10%), and the Lingling Region (9%).
Cultivated medicinal materials The Dongting Lake Plain and the river-valley mountainous areas on either side of the Xuefeng Mountains account for a large share, with Yiyang (16%), Shaoyang (16%), Huaihua (17%), and Yueyang (11%) contributing the highest annual output.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Atractylodes macrocephala, Citrus aurantium peel, Gardenia fruit, Honeysuckle flower, Eucommia bark, Magnolia bark, Phellodendron bark, Poria mushroom, Scrophularia root, Polygonatum rhizome, Lotus seed, Turtle shell, Soft-shelled turtle shell, Agkistrodon acutus, and Chinese rat snake, among others.
South China’s subtropical and tropical regions
This region is located in the southernmost part of China, encompassing the coastal areas of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian provinces, as well as Taiwan Province and Hainan Province, and lies at the northernmost boundary of the world’s tropical zone. The climate is warm and humid, with abundant rainfall averaging 1,200–2,000 mm per year. The typical vegetation includes evergreen tropical rainforests and monsoon-influenced seasonal rainforests, as well as subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forests. The soils are lateritic red and yellow-red soils. This region boasts a rich biodiversity, with more than 7,000 species of higher plants, 5,000 medicinal plant species, and nearly 300 medicinal animal species.
The eastern part of this region is located along China’s southeastern coast and is a major production area for the country’s authentic medicinal materials known as “Southern Medicinals” and “Cantonese Medicinals.” The principal medicinal herbs include areca nut, catechu, Stephania tetrandra, Morinda officinalis, Sophora tonkinensis, Alpinia oxyphylla, Amomum villosum, Brucea javanica, Pogostemon cablin, Desmodium styracifolium, Millettia reticulata, Cinnamomum cassia, and star anise, among others.
The animal-derived medicinal materials in this region include seahorse, Chinese horseshoe crab, gecko, golden-banded krait, Agkistrodon acutus, and centipede, among others.
wide
West
Wild medicinal materials : Western Guangxi is characterized by mountainous and hilly terrain, while northeastern Guangxi is predominantly mountainous; the largest reserves are found in Baise (26%), Guilin (23%), and Hechi (12%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : Primarily concentrated in the low mountain and hilly regions of southeastern Guangxi, with Qinzhou accounting for 39% of the annual output, Yulin for 27%, and Wuzhou for 19%.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes notoginseng, monk fruit, cinnamon, trichosanthes root, Chinese yam, kudzu root, honeysuckle, dendrobium, uncaria, benzoin, curcuma, poria, chicken blood vine, sophora root, pearl, gecko, and pangolin, among others.
Guangdong
Wild medicinal materials : The northern Guangdong mountainous region and the western Guangdong hilly areas are relatively extensive, with significant reserves concentrated in Shaoguan City (19%), Zhaoqing City (17%), and Qingyuan City (17%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : Production is mainly concentrated in the tropical and subtropical regions south of the Xijiang River, with Zhanjiang City accounting for 26%, Maoming City for 27%, and Zhaoqing City for 12% of the annual output.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Amomum villosum, Morinda officinalis, Pogostemon cablin, Citrus reticulata pericarpium, Alpinia galanga, Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, Polygonum multiflorum, Polygonatum odoratum, Kaempferia parviflora, Poria cocos, Dioscorea opposita, Hippocampus, Haliotis diversicolor, Coral, Bungarus multicinctus, and Pheretima, among others.
Hainan
Wild medicinal materials : Primarily distributed in the Wuzhishan Mountain area, with Baoting County holding the largest reserves, accounting for 68% of the province’s total.
Cultivated medicinal materials Most of the relatively flat areas on the eastern and western sides of Wuzhishan Mountain serve as national production bases for introduced and imported southern medicinal herbs, with Qionghai County accounting for 20% of the total output, Lingshui County for 14%, Tunchang County for 12%, and Wanning County for 10%.
Bulk medicinal materials and Southern medicines : Includes areca nut, amomum villosum, clove, white cardamom, sandalwood, Sterculia lychnophora, cinnamon, nutmeg, sterculia seed, catechu, sappan wood, strychnos nux-vomica, benzoin, angelica root, and patchouli, among others.
Southwest Subtropical Region
This region encompasses the four major provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, as well as southern Shaanxi, southern Gansu, and western Hubei. The terrain is highly complex, with most areas consisting of mountainous regions at elevations between 1,500 and 2,000 meters. The climate exhibits characteristics of a subtropical plateau basin: in most locales, spring temperatures are higher than autumn temperatures, with spring droughts and abundant rainfall during summer and autumn. Soil types include red soils, yellow soils, and brown soils. The intricate topography gives rise to numerous altitudinal climatic zones, resulting in exceptionally rich medicinal plant resources. This area is the production base for China’s authentic medicinal materials—“Chuan Yao,” “Yun Yao,” and “Gui Yao”—and harbors approximately 4,500 species of medicinal plants, 200 species of medicinal minerals, and 300 species of medicinal animals, including musk, leopard bone, bear bile, Chinese rat snake, and Agkistrodon acutus, among others.
The Qinba Mountain region in this area encompasses the Qinling Mountains, the Daba Mountains, the Longmen Mountains, the southern section of the Qionglai Mountains, the Wudang Mountains in northwestern Hubei, as well as the Han River Valley. Its flora is remarkably diverse and abundant, earning it the reputation as the “Medicinal Herb Homeland of Qinba.” The Qinling area is particularly rich in medicinal plant resources; surveys have identified 994 genera across 241 families, with key species including Astragalus, Gastrodia, Eucommia, Polygala, Cornus, and Codonopsis.
Shennongjia is renowned as a “botanical treasure trove,” home to more than 1,800 species of medicinal plants, including Coptis chinensis, Gastrodia elata, Eucommia ulmoides, Magnolia officinalis, Paris polyphylla, Rhodiola sachalinensis, Trillium tschonoskii, Angelica pubescens var. biserrata, and Southern mountain lotus leaf, among others.
The Sichuan Basin in this region boasts fertile soil and serves as a major base for the cultivation of medicinal herbs, including Paeonia lactiflora in Qu County and Zhongjiang; Coptis chinensis in Shizhu; Aconitum carmichaelii in Jiangyou; Quisqualis indica in Hechuan; Alisma orientale and Ligusticum chuanxiong in Guan County and Chongqing; Ophiopogon japonicus in Mianyang and Santai; and Croton tiglium in Xushui and Gongxian, among others.
Yunnan
Wild medicinal materials : The northwest Yunnan Hengduan Mountains’ alpine gorges and the southwestern Yunnan Plateau harbor relatively abundant reserves, such as in Nujiang Prefecture (38%), Lijiang Prefecture (16%), and Simao Prefecture (10%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : Distributed throughout the province, with the highest annual output in Diqing Prefecture (21%), Wenshan Prefecture (11%), Lijiang Prefecture (11%), Kunming City (9%), and Nujiang Prefecture (9%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes notoginseng, amomum villosum, Aucklandia lappa, angelica sinensis, coptis chinensis, gastrodia elata, poria, catechu, terminalia chebula, aristolochia, dendrobium, amomum tsao-ko, curculigo orchioides, spatholobus suberectus, areca catechu, papilionanthe, thunderpuffball, poria cocos, musk, and pangolin scales, among others.
Sichuan, Chongqing
Wild medicinal materials : The western Sichuan Plateau is rich in such resources, with Aba Prefecture accounting for 31%, Liangshan Prefecture for 20%, and Garze Prefecture for 14%.
Cultivated medicinal materials : Most of the production is concentrated in the Sichuan Basin and the surrounding mountainous areas. The regions with the largest annual output include the Wanzhou Area (13%), Chengdu City (11%), Daxian Area (11%), Leshan City (5%), Mianyang City (7%), Qianjiang Area (6%), Nanchong Area (6%), and Dujiangyan City (a county-level city, 6.5%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Coptis, Chuanxiong, Fritillaria, Aconite, Achyranthes, Angelica dahurica, Ophiopogon, White Peony, Atractylodes, Aucklandia, Codonopsis, Curcuma, Citrus aurantium peel, Alisma, Citron, Safflower, Gastrodia, Eucommia, Phellodendron, Magnolia bark, Notopterygium, Rheum, Cordyceps, Musk, and Bear Bile, among others.
Guizhou
Wild medicinal materials : Areas with relatively large reserves include the Zunyi Region (23%), the Bijie Region (23%), the Anshun Region (14%), Qiannan Prefecture (13%), and the Qiandongnan Region (10%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : The regions with the highest annual output are Qiandongnan Prefecture (33%), Zunyi City (22%), and Bijie Prefecture (23%).
Bulk medicinal materials : Gastrodia elata, Eucommia ulmoides, Evodia rutaecarpa, Asparagus cochinchinensis, Bletilla striata, Polygonum multiflorum, Tetrapanax papyrifer, Rhus chinensis, Lilium brownii, Adenophora stricta, Stachys sieboldii, musk, and pangolin scales, among others.
Northwest Temperate Zone
The region encompasses the Loess Plateau proper, the western Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Hexi Corridor, and Xinjiang. It experiences harsh, prolonged winters and warm but brief summers, with abundant sunshine, extreme diurnal temperature variations, low and uneven precipitation, frequent sandstorms, and the lowest rainfall, relative humidity, and highest evaporation rates in China—making it an arid zone.
The flora is dominated by perennial, xerophytic herbaceous plants, resulting in relatively low species diversity. The northwest arid steppe and desert regions encompass western Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, northern Gansu, the Junggar Basin and Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, and the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province—areas that are ringed by high mountains, receive very little precipitation, and rank among the world’s most arid zones. Medicinal plants found here include Xinjiang asafoetida, Fritillaria cirrhosa, goji berries, Cynomorium songaricum, Cistanche deserticola, licorice, ephedra, Bupleurum chinense, and Lithospermum erythrorhizon, among others. The mountainous areas of the northwest, including the Tianshan Mountains, Altai Mountains, and Qilian Mountains, lie within the steppe or desert zones. The main peaks of the Tianshan range reach about 5,000 meters; on the northern slopes, influenced by moist westerly air masses, the climate is relatively humid, leading to a distinct altitudinal zonation of vegetation and greater plant diversity, with approximately 2,500 species, over 200 of which are medicinal. Prominent medicinal species include Astragalus membranaceus, Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Tianshan codonopsis, Saussurea involucrata, and Xinjiang valerian.
The region’s botanical medicinal materials include Ferula multijuga, Trollius althaeoides, Rhodiola rosea, Rheum palmatum, Fritillaria przewalskii, Saussurea involucrata, Gentiana scabra, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Cimicifuga foetida, and Cordyceps sinensis, among others. Its zoological medicinal materials comprise antelope horn, sika deer antler, whole scorpion, hedgehog skin, musk, and Five-Ling脂, among others.
Shaanxi
Wild medicinal materials : Distributed across the Qinling–Daba Mountains and the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi, with the largest reserves found in Shangluo (26%), Yan’an (16%), Yulin (15%), and Baoji (10%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : The Qinba Mountains and the Wei River Plain account for a large share, with Hanzhong (36%), Ankang (17%), Weinan (13%), and Baoji (9%) contributing the largest annual outputs.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes eucommia, gastrodia, codonopsis, aconite, semen astragali, astragalus, licorice, forsythia, polygala, poria, musk, and whole scorpion, among others.
Ningxia
Wild medicinal materials : The largest reserves are found in the Yinan region, accounting for 90% of the total, which is the main production area for licorice and ephedra.
Cultivated medicinal materials : The majority is concentrated in two southern regions, namely Guyuan at 49% and Wuzhong at 36%.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes goji berries, licorice, ephedra, silver bupleurum, rhubarb, codonopsis, and astragalus, among others.
Gansu
Wild medicinal materials The regions with relatively abundant reserves include Wuwei (18%), Dingxi (16%), Gannan Prefecture (12%), Jiuquan (12%), Longnan (11%), and Qingyang Prefecture (10%).
Cultivated medicinal materials : Production is mainly concentrated in the arid central regions and the mountainous areas of Longnan, with Dingxi accounting for 50% and Longnan for 34% of the annual output.
Bulk medicinal materials : Includes Angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula, Rheum palmatum, Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Gentiana macrophylla, Notopterygium incisum, Farfarae Flos, Bupleurum chinense, Astragalus membranaceus, Gentiana macrophylla, Polygala tenuifolia, Paeonia lactiflora, Polyporus umbellatus, musk, and deer antler, among others.
Xinjiang
Wild medicinal materials : The oases surrounding the Tarim Basin hold substantial reserves, with Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture accounting for 31%, Aksu Prefecture for 28%, and Kashgar Prefecture for 12%.
Cultivated medicinal materials : Northern Xinjiang accounts for the majority, with Boratag Prefecture (28%), Changji Prefecture (23%), and Kashgar Prefecture (23%) contributing the largest annual output.
Bulk medicinal materials : Contains licorice, fritillaria bulb, cistanche, safflower, lithospermum, apricot kernel, epimedium, apocynum venetum, deer antler velvet, and deer antlers, among others.
“Tibet’s climate is unique and highly complex due to the influence of its topography, landforms, and atmospheric circulation. In general, the climate is characterized by harsh cold and aridity in the northwest and warmth and humidity in the southeast. Consequently, the climatic zones vary from southeast to northwest, encompassing tropical, subtropical, plateau temperate, plateau subarctic, and plateau polar climates, among others. In the southeastern Tibetan region and the high-altitude canyon areas on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, as elevation increases in successive steps, temperatures gradually decline, resulting in a vertical zonation of climate—from tropical or subtropical conditions at lower elevations to temperate, cool-temperate, and frigid climates at higher elevations. Medicinal herbs native to Tibet include cordyceps, snow lotus, saffron, rhodiola, picrorhiza, rhubarb, pangolin scales, palm ginseng, and reishi mushroom, among others.”
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