Guazhou Suoyang

Guazhou Suoyang

Guazhou Suoyang is a product with geographical indication status.

　　Suoyang is one of the precious and unique medicinal herbs in Anxi, also known as the "fountain of youth." It is a wild fleshy parasite with a sweet and mild taste, known for its benefits such as nourishing kidneys, enhancing virility, enriching essence, moistening dryness, strengthening muscles, and relieving constipation. There is a folk saying that "Suoyang in the depths of winter is more potent than ginseng." The main production area is around the ancient city of Suoyang from the Tang Dynasty, with an annual output of over 20,000 kilograms.

　　Location:

　　Gansu

　　Applicant:

　　Guazhou County Suoyang Association

　　Location:

　　2014

　　Geographical Scope

　　Guazhou County is located at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, between 94°45′00″–97°00′00″ east longitude and 39°52′00″–41°53′00″ north latitude. It borders Yumen City to the east, Dunhuang City to the west, the Subei Mongol Autonomous County to the north and south, and Hami City of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the northwest. The county spans 185 kilometers from east to west and 200 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 24,100 square kilometers with a population of 148,800. The main artificial Suoyang cultivation areas within Guazhou County's jurisdiction include seven townships: Hedong Township, Suoyangcheng Town, Sandaogou Town, Yaozhanzi Township, Shahe Township, Qidun Township, and Bulongji Township, encompassing 30 administrative villages. Among them, Shigandun serves as the cultivation demonstration zone, located in a wind-eroded area of the county, which has been designated as a key integrated agricultural development zone for "forestry and herbal medicine integration." The Guazhou County Suoyang Association employs artificial cultivation methods to guide farmers in growing Suoyang. To date, the artificially cultivated Suoyang covers an area of 220 hectares, with an annual production of 300 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　External Sensory Features: "Guazhou Suoyang" is a parasitic herbaceous plant belonging to the fungus category, often parasitizing the roots of Nitraria. It has a thick underground stem with multiple tuberculate absorbing roots. The stem is cylindrical, dark purplish-red, 20–100 cm in height, and 3–6 cm in diameter, mostly buried in sand. The base is thick and sturdy, making it highly storable and of excellent quality. The leaves are scale-like, ovate or triangular, 0.5–1 cm long, and less than 1 cm wide. The spike-like inflorescence is terminal, club-shaped and oblong, 5–15 cm long and 2.5–6 cm in diameter, with dark purple flowers and a fragrant aroma. Internal Quality Standards: "Guazhou Suoyang" contains 18 types of amino acids, primarily aspartic acid and proline, along with 17 physiologically active substances. It includes trace elements such as iron, zinc, calcium, selenium, cobalt, and germanium, which promote cell regeneration and metabolism in the human body. Particularly, the total sugars, total glycosides, and total sterols in Suoyang provide resistance to hypoxia and stress, playing a unique role in boosting immunity, fighting viruses, anti-aging, regulating endocrine function, and improving sexual performance. Safety Requirements: Guazhou Suoyang strictly adheres to the "Pollution-Free Agricultural Products" standard (NT/T391-2000). The use of unregistered or nationally banned agricultural inputs is prohibited. Standardized production practices are promoted to ensure the quality and safety of Guazhou Suoyang.