Chongqing - Youyang is a concentrated, refined, and treasured version of the natural scenery and folk culture of the Wuling Mountains, officials briefed at an industry-promoting news conference for Chongqing Youyang Autonomous County on September 9.

Qi Meiwen, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Youyang Autonomous County Committee, said that ecology is the root of Youyang. The county adheres to the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," optimizes spatial layout, and vividly interprets ecological industrialization and industrial ecology. Youyang, known as the "Climate Tourism County of China" and the "Natural Oxygen Bar of China," has an annual average temperature of 15.2°C and a yearly average concentration of negative oxygen ions reaching 3809 per cubic centimeter. As the "World Artemisia Annua Capital," Youyang contributes 50% of the global artemisinin supply. The "Plant Kingdom" is becoming an "industry ace."

A Scene of Youyang County. (Photo/Youyang County)

Developing dcology, rural areas, and cultural tourism

Youyang is a major ecological, agricultural, demographic, and tourism county. At an altitude of 800 meters, Youyang's misty environment yields negative ion concentrations 7.4 times the national standard, with soil rich in trace elements like zinc and selenium. The high diurnal temperature variation of 13.8°C stimulates crops to produce more amino acids and polysaccharides. Additionally, the high-altitude frost kills most overwintering pests, making "zero pesticide and zero chemical fertilizer" farming possible.

On one hand, Youyang implements standardized production, base management, and digital traceability, establishing a fully traceable system from planting to processing and from fields to tables. On the other hand, Youyang has developed or participated in setting various standards, such as the pre-certification of dihydroartemisinin by the World Health Organization and the release of the city's first local standard for tea oil. The county also contributed to drafting national standards for edible composite enzymes in China.

Youyang Taohuayuan Scenic Area, Chongqing. (Photo/Youyang County)

Industrial development boosts export growth

How can Youyang in southeastern Chongqing catch the "fast train" of the  New International Land-sea Trade Corridor? By operating a specialized bonded warehouse, Youyang has established a sister-city relationship with Udomxai Province in Laos and signed its first order for 300,000 yuan worth of Lao beer. The county has been approved as the first tea export base covering 3470 acres. The "Youyang 800" enzyme products have been first exported to the EU, and denim clothing has been exported to Sri Lanka via the  New International Land-sea Trade Corridor. In the first half of this year, Youyang achieved a total import and export volume of 1.07 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 34.5%.

In recent years, Youyang has focused on the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system set by the municipal government, developing "three 100-billion" industrial clusters in pharmaceuticals, food and agricultural product processing, and fashion apparel, accelerating the development of new productive forces. Youyang is home to the world's first and only GAP-certified artemisia plantation base, covering 100,000 acres with an artemisinin content of 30‰, earning it the title "World Artemisia Annua Capital." Artemisia is a miracle medicine for malaria. Youyang has transformed 1296 traditional Chinese medicine materials, partnering with China Resources Sanjiu and Kunming Pharmaceutical Group to build a lighthouse factory. Currently, five production lines are in operation, with two new artemisinin derivative drugs launched, and dihydroartemisinin has received WHO pre-certification. The production capacity of the exclusive Mianqin Cough Syrup has increased to 20 million boxes annually, with over ten Artemisia health products set to launch. The industrial and trade output value is expected to surpass 3 billion yuan this year and reach 10 billion by 2027.

In the food and agricultural product processing sector, Youyang has deeply developed specialty industries such as tea oil, tea leaves, and tribute rice, introducing 49 categories and 348 high-quality agricultural products, and obtaining 81 new green organic food certifications. The county has attracted and nurtured 11 city-level agricultural product processing demonstration enterprises, 6 key "double hundred" enterprises, and 1 city-level gazelle enterprise. A 5000-ton annual fresh edible mushroom processing project has been initiated, and a 100,000-ton blended oil production line has been established. Youyang's enzymes are being sold in bulk to the Spanish market. The agricultural product processing industry's output value is expected to surpass 3 billion yuan this year and reach 10 billion by 2027.

Furthermore, Youyang is committed to becoming the "Fashion Denim City of China (West)." By continuously increasing investment efforts, 26 new apparel enterprises have been established, boosting garment production capacity to 15 million pieces. Denim apparel production is expected to exceed 2 billion yuan this year.