Hechi is currently being established as a national demonstration city for grassroots traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) work.

As the first "World Longevity City" in China, Hechi is home to 2,879 medicinal plants, accounting for 38 percent of Guangxi's total. It is the largest city in Guangxi in terms of TCM resources.

Based on its industrial foundation and resource advantages, Hechi has promoted the large-scale cultivation of medicinal ingredients, with 585,000 mu (39,000 hectares) of Chinese medicinal ingredients planted.

Hechi has taken the counties of Luocheng and Donglan as reform pilot areas for TCM and ethnic medicine, strengthening the construction of the city's TCM management system. Currently, there are 10 TCM hospitals in the city, and all 39 public hospitals have TCM departments.

The city has cultivated a group of leading TCM enterprises integrating research, production, and sales, promoting the integrated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries.

Taking the opportunity to build a green development pioneer pilot zone, the city is leveraging the advantages of ethnic medicine represented by the Mulam, Zhuang, and Maonan ethnic groups to promote the integration of the TCM industry, with a focus on health preservation, elderly care and health tourism.

Hechi has promoted the healthy and rapid development of the TCM industry through technical training and talent attraction. Currently, it is home to 3,000 TCM practitioners. Since 2015, it has trained 338 students in rural targeted TCM programs, cultivated and retained 2,500 TCM medical personnel, and selected 35 renowned TCM practitioners.

Farmers pick Chinese medicinal materials in Hongli village, Wuzhuan town, Donglan county. [Photo/Hechi Daily]