Dujiangyan Houpo

Dujiangyan Houpo

Dujiangyan Houpo is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Dujiangyan Houpo has been included in the list of products protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) scheme. In recent years, through the implementation of standardized production practices, expansion of cultivation areas, improvement in product quality, and increased market share, this ancient and precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb has regained a renewed and remarkable brilliance.

　　Product Introduction: Dujiangyan Houpo – The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued the “Announcement on Accepting Applications for Geographical Indication Product Protection for Products Including Dujiangyan Houpo.” In accordance with the “Regulations on the Protection of Geographical Indication Products,” the application for GI protection for “Dujiangyan Houpo” and other products was legally accepted and reviewed by the National GI Product Protection Office and expert review panels. After a two-month public notice period, it will officially be granted nationwide GI protection for “Dujiangyan Houpo.”

　　Development Prospects – Due to its superior quality and high medicinal efficacy, demand for Dujiangyan Houpo continues to grow both domestically and internationally. As the medicinal value of Houpo increases, so do the planting quantities and areas. Driven by domestic and international market demand, the scale of Houpo cultivation in Dujiangyan City has expanded rapidly, spurring economic development within the Houpo industry. By 2007, the city’s Houpo cultivation area had expanded to over 130,000 mu, primarily distributed across mountainous regions including Hongkou Township, Zipingpu Town, Longchi Town, Yutang Town, Zhongxing Town, Daguan Town, Qingchengshan Town, Xiang’e Township, and Puyang Town. Currently, over 4,000 households in Dujiangyan City are engaged in cultivating the “three-wood medicinal herbs,” with Houpo plantings covering more than 130,000 mu, including over 40,000 mu of trees aged ten years or older. The annual output of Dujiangyan Houpo includes up to 3,000 metric tons of Houpo bark and 3,600 cubic meters of Houpo wood, generating an output value of over 36 million yuan.

　　Production Bases – The soil and climate conditions in Dujiangyan City are ideal for producing high-quality, high-yield Houpo. Dujiangyan is one of the most suitable regions for growing medicinal herbs. Through long-term production exploration, summarization, application, and refinement, a set of green, standardized cultivation techniques suited to local conditions has been developed—such as deep-ditching with raised beds, proper pruning, and biological pest control. Dujiangyan City has taken the lead in establishing pollution-free Houpo production bases, strictly following the “Technical Regulations for Pollution-Free Houpo Production” to build standardized, pollution-free demonstration bases. These efforts have provided technical support for the standardized production of export-grade Houpo.

　　Dujiangyan City is one of the most suitable regions for the growth of medicinal herbs. At present, the production of medicinal herbs in the city has gradually shifted from scattered, natural cultivation to standardized and centralized methods. A set of green, standardized cultivation techniques adapted to the local conditions has been developed, with techniques such as deep-ditching with raised beds, reasonable pruning, and biological pest control being widely promoted. The city has also led the way in establishing pollution-free Houpo production bases, building standardized, pollution-free demonstration bases in strict accordance with relevant production technical regulations. This provides technical support for the standardized production of export-grade Houpo.

　　Product Features – Grown under completely natural conditions, Dujiangyan Houpo is characterized by rapid growth, high yield, thick bark, and high medicinal content. According to the “Compendium of Materia Medica,” Dujiangyan Houpo is considered the highest quality in China. The longer Dujiangyan Houpo is cultivated, the thicker and higher-quality its bark becomes. Currently, its market price is about 30% higher than that of Houpo from other regions in China.

　　“Dujiangyan Houpo” is Selling Well Domestically and Abroad – Experts indicate that “Dujiangyan Houpo” will soon officially receive national GI protection. Implementing GI protection for “Dujiangyan Houpo” is a historically significant milestone in its development. It holds great importance for further promoting the industrialization of “Dujiangyan Houpo,” preserving regional characteristics and quality, and also broadens the path for further development and utilization of “Dujiangyan Houpo” resources.

　　Due to its excellent quality and high medicinal efficacy, Dujiangyan Houpo has gained recognition in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, with an annual export of 300 metric tons of raw Houpo bark. It currently occupies a certain share in both domestic and international markets. Deputy Ministers of the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare have visited the “Three-Wood Medicinal Herbs Cooperative” in Dujiangyan City multiple times and reached cooperation intentions. The city plans to take this opportunity to further enhance the quality of “Dujiangyan Houpo,” expand its international market presence, continue implementing brand strategies, establish incentive policies, increase production capacity, and strengthen the Houpo industry.

　　The protected geographical indication product area for Dujiangyan Houpo covers the entire administrative region of Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province.