Huang Qin

Zhoutiao Qin

　　Huang Qin produced in Zhongtiao Mountain. Due to its unique natural geographic and climatic conditions, Zhoutiao Qin enjoys high fame across China and is considered the finest variety of Huang Qin in the country, often referred to as the “little ginseng.”

　　　　The appearance of Huang Qin varies widely — most have a fibrous root structure, while a minority feature a taproot. Its growth resembles that of a tree root: when young, it has few fibrous roots, but the longer it grows, the more and thicker the fibrous roots become. Samples collected from herbal medicine shops show that the thickest roots can reach about an inch in diameter, while the thinnest are as fine as thread. The outer skin is as thin as paper and easily peels off, appearing dark red, while the inner part is golden yellow.

　　　　Zhoutiao Qin is widely distributed in Pinglu County, mainly along the mountainous areas, both wild and cultivated. It is a rare and valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herb unique to Pinglu, with broad development prospects.