NEIQIU, China, July 2 (Bernama-AsiaNet) — Deep in the Taihang Mountains in north China, a group of workers are busy planting local authentic traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in the Bian Que TCM Valley, the largest TCM planting base in Neiqiu County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province. The valley is home to 28 varieties of TCM, covering more than 6,000 mu in planting area. A Chinese herbal medicine seed processing workshop is also under construction in the valley. Upon completion, more than 100 tons of Chinese herbal medicine seeds can be produced and processed annually to meet the demand for genuine Chinese herbal medicine planting in the surrounding areas of Taihang Mountains.
Neiqiu County, located in the central part of Taihang Mountains, has profound TCM culture and abundant wild herbal medicine resources within its territory. It is recognized as the birthplace of Bian Que, a well-known TCM physician during the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States Period (407-310 BC). It has also been rated as a national TCM culture branding and education base. According to historical records, the Pengque Mountain in Neiqiu County was the territory, place of medical practice and burial for Bian Que. The Bian Que Temple in Neiqiu, which has the longest history and the largest scale of its kind in China, is listed as a national key cultural relic site under protection.