Laiyuan Medicinal Herbs

Last updated 2026-11-12 — Laiyuan boasts vast mountainous areas, diverse climates, lush vegetation, and a wide variety of high-quality medicinal herbs. The annual total output reaches over 5 million kilograms, ranking first in Hebei Province. Historically, there was a saying about "southern and northern medicinal herbs," with the south referring to Anguo and the north to Laiyuan. Baishi Mountain and Henglingzi are among the main production areas. There are more than one hundred and fifty types of widely sold medicinal herbs, such as black bupleurum, saposhnikovia root, platycodon root, earthworm-like herb, polygonatum odoratum, and skullcap, to name just a few. Local villagers carry a “fifteen-jin” load (a seven-jin basket and an eight-jin hoe) when foraging. Every summer after the farming season ends, men and women head up the mountains in groups to collect herbs. There used to be a saying, “No matter how many nets you cast in the water, each one will have fish and shrimp,” but in recent years, over-harvesting has led to a gradual decline in these resources, making rest and moderation necessary.