By hannover-web.com On October 18, representatives from overseas Chinese-language media visited Hunchun City in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province, to explore the region’s rich ginseng culture and the intricate processing of ginseng products. This initiative, titled “Opportunities in China, Open Jilin,” brought together media professionals from over a dozen countries and regions.
Ginseng, hailed as the “king of herbs,” is a prized traditional Chinese medicine known for its health benefits and mysterious allure. In the Changbai Mountain region, the local practice of gathering wild ginseng is colloquially referred to as “farming in the mountains,” an ancient custom that has recently been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
One popular question among locals is, “Is it true that when you find ginseng, you tie a red string around it to prevent it from running away?” A staff member from Hunchun Huari Ginseng Bioengineering Co., Ltd. explained, “From our experience, the main purposes of tying the red string are twofold: to serve as a marker and to secure the plant in place.”
As the media group toured the company’s GMP production facility, they expressed admiration for the dust-free environment and advanced technological conditions found in areas such as the extraction room and the granulation auxiliary machinery room. The company utilizes sophisticated processes like low-temperature freeze-drying, micro-powdering, and total ginsenoside extraction to create high-tech, easily absorbable ginseng products, including food, beverages, health supplements, and cosmetics.
In 2023, the comprehensive output value of Jilin’s ginseng industry exceeded 70 billion yuan for the first time, marking a 10.3% increase from the previous year. The province is actively extending its deep processing industrial chain, accelerating the diversified development and utilization of ginseng across multiple fields, and working towards transforming the ginseng industry into a trillion-yuan powerhouse.
Hunchun City, located at the easternmost tip of Jilin Province, is uniquely situated at the intersection of China, Russia, and North Korea, earning it a reputation for its panoramic views and strategic significance. During the visit, the media representatives climbed to the Longhu Pavilion and were captivated by the majestic Tumen River flowing below, leaving a lasting impression.
Thanks to its unique geographical advantages, Hunchun is gradually becoming a regional hub and distribution center for cross-border e-commerce in Northeast Asia. Over recent years, the city has vigorously promoted the establishment of a comprehensive pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce, witnessing a dramatic increase in trade volume from 43 million yuan in 2018 to 5.08 billion yuan in 2023, reflecting an average annual growth rate of over 90%. In the first half of this year alone, Hunchun maintained a robust growth trajectory, achieving a trade volume of 2.72 billion yuan, which is a staggering increase of 118%.
In addition to examining economic developments, the media group also visited the Yanbian Museum, established in 1960, to learn about the historical processes of cooperation among various ethnic groups in cultivating and building their home together in Yanbian.
