From Mountain Farms to Global Markets: The Story of Chongqing’s Goldthread

Chongqing - From the mountains of Chongqing to pharmacies in South Korea, goldthread is reaching new overseas markets. Workers in Shizhu County recently prepared eight tonnes of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb for export, worth over 4 million yuan (approximately 0.6 million U.S. dollars).

For Peng Ping'an, general manager of Chongqing Wanglong Goldthread Technology Co., Ltd., the shipment represents more than an overseas order. It is part of a growing international market for a medicinal plant that local farmers have cultivated for more than 700 years.

A 700-year tradition reaching global markets

Goldthread, known as huanglian in Chinese, is a perennial herb whose dried rhizomes are used in traditional Chinese medicine. One of its main active compounds is berberine, which has attracted scientific interest for its potential pharmaceutical applications.

The plant thrives in cool, humid mountain environments at elevations of around 1,200 to 1,800 meters. Shizhu's climate and soil conditions make it particularly suitable for cultivation.

Known as China's "hometown of goldthread," Shizhu has more than seven centuries of cultivation history. Its goldthread is recognized as a geographical indication product and is included in the China-EU agreement on geographical indications.

Today, more than 11,000 farming households across 67 villages in Shizhu cultivate the herb. The county produces over 4,100 tonnes annually, while Huangshui Town is home to China's only specialized goldthread trading market.

Local authorities say the market handles around 90% of China's goldthread trade. Products from Shizhu reach more than ten countries and regions, including South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, generating approximately $8 million in annual export earnings.

International demand is also creating opportunities for local processors.

Peng's company has received orders from major Chinese pharmaceutical companies, including Beijing Tong Ren Tang and Yunnan Baiyao, as well as buyers in Shanghai, Hong Kong and overseas markets.

At the company's facility, workers inspect, sort, soften, slice, and dry freshly harvested goldthread before distributing it to customers.

Connecting farmers with international buyers

Shizhu has developed a traditional herb business model linking leading enterprises, agricultural cooperatives and individual farmers.

Companies provide technical guidance and agricultural supplies, while cooperatives and farmers manage cultivation and harvesting. The harvested goldthread is then purchased, processed and sold to domestic and international markets.

Local authorities say the industry helps participating farming households increase their annual incomes by an average of more than 50,000 yuan (about 7,500 U.S. dollars).

In Huangshui Town's Jinzhuliang planting area, farmer Zhuang Dashan harvests goldthread from three to four mu (about 0.2 to 0.27 hectares) of farmland each year.

He credits Peng with helping farmers address problems involving plant diseases and pests. Just as importantly, he says, Peng's company pays farmers promptly for their harvests, giving them confidence in the business relationship.

The arrangement connects small-scale mountain farms with a much larger supply chain, allowing local growers to benefit from demand beyond their immediate region.

Preserving traditional farming methods

Despite growing commercialization, Shizhu continues to preserve traditional goldthread cultivation techniques.

One distinctive practice is known locally as "one stump, one tree," which involves growing goldthread alongside trees that provide natural shade.

According to Ran Bo, deputy director of a crop seed station under Shizhu's agriculture and rural affairs authority, the method reduces the need to cut trees or build artificial shade structures. Fallen leaves also provide organic matter for the soil.

Traditional processing methods remain part of the local industry.

After harvesting, farmers can dry goldthread over traditional earthen stoves, manually turning the rhizomes to maintain their quality. Although labor-intensive, local practitioners believe this method helps preserve the herb's outer surface and active compounds.

In 2017, Shizhu's traditional goldthread production system was recognized as a China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage System. The county is now seeking recognition under the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems program.

Efforts to preserve these practices also extend to local schools, where students learn about goldthread cultivation, harvesting and processing through specially developed educational materials by Liu Guanghui, Party Secretary of Huangshui School.

Bringing modern science to an ancient herb

While preserving its traditional methods, Shizhu is investing in research, product development and industrial upgrading.

Since 2020, government-supported agricultural development programs have helped the county build up agricultural industrial park and strengthen cooperation with Southwest University, the Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica and other research institutions.

These partnerships have supported the development of goldthread germplasm conservation resources and genetic information databases, laying the groundwork for improved breeding and scientific research.

Shizhu has also participated in the development of industry standards and expanded its processing capabilities.

According to local authorities, the county has secured more than 40 invention patents and developed over 20 goldthread-related products, including toothpaste and pharmaceutical preparations. Around 30 small and medium-sized processing businesses now form part of its local industry.

The next step is to expand international research collaboration.

Qin Jian, an official overseeing medicinal herb development at Shizhu's agriculture and rural affairs authority, said the county plans to work with research institutions and pharmaceutical companies in China and abroad on germplasm conservation, breeding, quality standards and potential new applications.

Research into berberine and its possible role in metabolic diseases, including diabetes, is among the areas of interest, although further clinical research is needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of specific treatments.

For Shizhu, the ambition is to combine its centuries-old agricultural heritage with modern science and international partnerships.

From a mountain herb cultivated by generations of farmers to a product traded across borders, Shizhu's goldthread industry shows how traditional agriculture can find new opportunities in global markets.