Changbai Mountain Natural Mineral Water

Changbai Mountain Natural Mineral Water

Changbai Mountain Natural Mineral Water is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Jilin Changbai Mountain Natural Mineral Water, a product protected under China’s National Geographical Indication (Origin Protected) scheme. Produced in the Changbai Mountain region of Jilin Province, thanks to unique geological conditions and a pristine ecological environment, the overall taste and quality of Changbai Mountain mineral water are comparable to world-famous brands. It contains a moderate level of beneficial mineral components and trace elements, with some indicators even surpassing those of certain renowned global mineral waters. Alongside Europe’s Alps and Russia’s Caucasus Mountains, it ranks as one of the world’s three major sources of mineral water.

　　　The Changbai Mountain region and its surrounding volcanic lava plateaus and clastic rock basins feature three northeast-trending deep fault zones and circumferential structural fracture zones formed by volcanic eruptions, creating exceptionally favorable geological conditions for the formation and storage of mineral water. As groundwater circulates through processes such as recharge, runoff, and discharge—under high temperature and pressure—it undergoes hydrogeochemical actions like leaching and ion exchange, dissolving beneficial mineral components and trace elements from the surrounding rocks. This increases the concentration of characteristic elements in the water, meeting the required threshold indicators, thereby forming the unique resource of Changbai Mountain natural mineral water.

　　Quality Characteristics

　　　　The water sources of Changbai Mountain mineral water are located deep within the primitive forests of Changbai Mountain, with most being natural artesian springs that have undergone long-term natural mineralization. Fig. 3: Drinking Natural Mineral Water from Beigang Daquan in Fusong County.

　　The minerals present exist in ionic form in the water. The water boasts abundant yield and excellent quality. Changbai Mountain mineral water comes in a wide variety of types, including metasilicic acid type, strontium type, carbonic acid type, and composite types such as metasilicic acid and strontium. Tested and certified by Germany’s Fresenius Research Institute—a globally authoritative water evaluation body—the overall taste and quality of Changbai Mountain mineral water are comparable to world-famous brands, with some indicators even outperforming certain renowned global mineral waters. Alongside Europe’s Alps and Russia’s Caucasus Mountains, it is ranked among the world’s three major mineral water sources.

　　The temperature of Changbai Mountain mineral water remains stable year-round at 6–9°C, ensuring the relative stability of mineral components and content in the water and preventing the growth and proliferation of miscellaneous bacteria. At the same time, Changbai Mountain mineral water is rich in 29 essential trace elements and macro elements such as molybdenum, selenium, iodine, strontium, as well as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These elements are present in moderate amounts, with their natural proportions closely resembling the ideal ratios needed by the human body, making it an excellent supplement for essential trace elements. The pH value of Changbai Mountain natural mineral water is generally neutral, close to the body’s internal environment. The metasilicic acid content is as high as over 50 mg/L, with the highest exceeding 100 mg/L. Metasilicic acid is easily absorbed by the body, promoting bone growth and development, participating in polysaccharide metabolism, and serving as a key component in the formation of certain glucosaminoglycan carboxylic acids.

　　Production Situation

　　　　In 2001, Jilin Province established China’s first provincial-level mineral water protection zone in Changbai Mountain—the Changbai Mountain Natural Mineral Water Jingyu Water Source Protection Zone. Fig. 4: Products of Nongfu Spring Jilin Changbai Mountain Co., Ltd.

　　In 2005, monitoring by authoritative European institutions confirmed that Changbai Mountain natural mineral water meets the strictest EU and German mineral water standards.

　　As one of the world’s three major mineral water sources, the natural mineral water industry in Jilin’s Changbai Mountain region has developed rapidly. Despite the severe impact of the financial crisis, the industry achieved remarkable success in 2008. The production of bottled water in Jilin Province, led by Changbai Mountain mineral water, reached 2.29 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 114.5%, surpassing the national average in China by over 90 percentage points. Its ranking jumped from 8th in 2007 to 2nd nationwide. Within China’s bottled water industry, Jilin Province’s production growth accounted for over 23% of the country’s total increase.

　　Changbai Mountain natural mineral water enjoys abundant reserves, diverse types, and a superior natural environment. In 2009, among more than 180 identified and technically assessed mineral water sources, there were 47 production bases with permitted extraction volumes exceeding 100,000 tons per year. Since these sources are located in sparsely populated, unpolluted, and pristine environments, Changbai Mountain natural mineral water includes not only metasilicic acid type, strontium type, and composite types like metasilicic acid-strontium, but also rare types that simultaneously meet drinking standards for multiple components such as carbon dioxide, lithium, strontium, and metasilicic acid.

　　Leveraging the abundant resources of Changbai Mountain natural mineral water, Jilin Province’s mineral water industry has grown rapidly with expanding scale year by year. By 2009, the province had over 60 mineral water enterprises, producing nearly 1 million tons of mineral water annually and generating billions of yuan in value. A preliminary industrial development pattern has emerged, led by companies such as Quanyangquan Beverage Co., Ltd., Wahaha Group Jilin Co., Ltd., and Nongfu Spring Jilin Co., Ltd., and featuring Chinese national brands like “Quanyangquan.”

　　At the same time, Jilin Province has also collaborated with renowned domestic and international enterprises such as South Korea’s NAPIA, Taiwan’s Master Kong, Wu Tai Group, and Asian Fu Heng to promote the global export of Changbai Mountain natural mineral water.

　　Protected Origin Product Status

　　　　In accordance with the “Protected Origin Product Regulations,” the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China approved the application for protected origin status of Jilin Changbai Mountain Natural Mineral Water. Starting from July 1, 2004, the product was granted protected origin status under Announcement No. 83 of 2004.

　　Protected Origin Area

　　　　The protected origin area for Jilin Changbai Mountain Natural Mineral Water is defined based on the geographical scope proposed in the “Reply Letter from the Jilin Provincial People's Government Office Regarding the Establishment of the Application Team for the Protected Origin Status of Jilin Changbai Mountain Natural Mineral Water” (Ji Zheng Ban Han [2003] No. 87), covering the following 16 counties (cities): Antu County, Dunhua City, Longjing City, Helong City, Wangqing County, Fusong County, Jingyu County, Changbai County, Linjiang City, Jiangyuan County, Huinan County, Liuhe County, Tonghua County, Panshi City, Huadian City, and Jiaohe City.