Cangnan County has partnered with Zhejiang A&F University to upgrade its traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sector, signing a five-year agreement to develop a high-value Polygonatum sibiricum (Huangjing) industrial cluster. The county government will invest 25 million RMB ($3.4M) to advance cultivation, processing, and branding of this “medicine-food homologous” herb.

Strategic Collaboration Highlights

Key Areas: Germplasm conservation, product R&D, digital production systems

Target: Establish Cangnan as a national geographical indicator for Huangjing

Economic Goal: Elevate industrial chain output to 1.5 billion RMB ($206M)

Industry Foundation

As home to China’s largest ginseng and deer antler trading hub, Cangnan cultivates 16,000 mu (10,667 acres) of medicinal herbs. Huangjing now leads local “medicine-food fusion” innovations, with products like:

Nine-Stewed Huangjing Mooncakes

Huangjing-Stuffed Meat Wontons

Huangjing Seaweed Crackers

Co-Benefit Mechanism

An “Enterprise + Village + Farmer” model will:

Train 200+ farmers annually in advanced cultivation

Certify provincial-level agri-experts

Increase grower incomes by 30% through premium branding