Hezhang Gastrodia Elata

Hezhang Gastrodia Elata

　　Hezhang is located in the western part of Guizhou Province, China, on the upper reaches of the Liuchong River, the northern source of the Wujiang River, and borders Yunnan Province. The county is known as the "Hometown of Gastrodia Elata" due to its abundant production of this medicinal herb.

　　Hezhang County in Bijie, Guizhou Province, is a major producer of gastrodia elata. Geographically, it lies in the northwest of Guizhou Province, within the sloping transition zone from the eastern Yunnan Plateau to the central Guizhou hills in the Wumeng Mountain area. The county seat is approximately 300 kilometers from Guiyang and about 96 kilometers from the regional capital, Bijie City. It borders Bijie and Nayong to the east, Weining to the north, Liupanshui to the south, and Zhenxiong and Yiliang of Yunnan Province to the north. The county covers an area of 3,245.1 square kilometers and governs 27 townships (including 12 ethnic minority townships). Fourteen ethnic groups reside in the county, including Han, Yi, Miao, Bai, and Hui. By the end of 2002, the total population was 633,200, with ethnic minorities accounting for 21.3%.

　　　　The county contains 33 types of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources, with large reserves. The terrain is rugged, with steep mountains, overlapping peaks, crisscrossing ravines, and deeply incised rivers. Thirteen of these minerals are of high grade. Among them, the prospective coal reserves are about 4 billion tons, iron ore reserves are about 405 million tons (accounting for 40% of the province’s proven reserves), lead-zinc ore reserves account for two-thirds of the province’s proven reserves, and germanium metal reserves rank first in Asia. The county has a diverse range of livestock and poultry, among which the Kole pig is a dual-purpose breed for meat and fat, known for its good quality meat and suitability for making ham and cured pork. The county also boasts abundant resources in forestry, fruit, forage grass, and traditional Chinese medicinal materials. The forested area exceeds 2 million mu, with timber volume reaching over 1 million cubic meters. There are 768,000 mu of grazing hills and grasslands. Hezhang is home to over 2,000 types of medicinal herbs, more than 500 of which are listed in the national compendium of valuable medicinal materials. Known as the “Hometown of Gastrodia Elata,” it is one of the main production areas of medicinal herbs in Guizhou. The county has 1.6384 million mu of arable land, including 42,200 mu of paddy fields. Its natural and other resources are extremely rich, making it a “treasure basin” in the Wumeng Mountain area and a highly economically valuable region in northwestern Guizhou. The county is known as the “Hometown of Gastrodia Elata” due to its abundant production of this herb.

　　　　The geographical location and climate of Hezhang County are highly suitable for the growth of gastrodia elata. The area belongs to the Wujiang River system in the Yangtze River basin and features a warm temperate, cool spring-dry and summer-humid climate zone. The frost-free period lasts 206–255 days, with an average annual temperature of 10–13 degrees Celsius, annual rainfall of 785.5–1,068 millimeters, and sunshine duration of 1,260.8–1,548.3 hours. The county has 17 rivers each with a length of over 10 kilometers, with a theoretical hydropower reserve of over 80,000 kilowatts, of which 28,800 kilowatts are developable, and 8,885 kilowatts have been developed so far. Local specialty resources include “Caishen Lacquer,” which is of high quality and enjoys a strong reputation both domestically and internationally; walnuts are renowned for their thin shells, full kernels, fragrant taste, and high oil yield; garlic is popular for its large size, white color, and long shelf life; cherries are bright and jewel-like in color with a honey-sweet flavor; and kidney beans are fragrant, sweet, and an important export product. Hezhang is rich in gastrodia elata production, hence its title as the “Hometown of Gastrodia Elata.” The gastrodia elata from Hezhang is of premium quality, possessing significant edible and medicinal value.