In Tonghua, Baishan, and Yanji in Jilin Province, a quiet revolution is underway — one that uses technology as the brush, digitalization as the ink, and government–enterprise collaboration as the bridge. This transformation is helping “Jilin Ginseng” move beyond its long-standing dilemma of being high quality but low priced, paving a new path toward brand enhancement, industrial chain expansion, and broader market reach.
Technology Empowerment: Strengthening the Roots of Quality
At the wild ginseng base in Yangzishao Town, Huinan County, a 25-year-old forest-grown ginseng plant stands as a vivid example of combining scientific cultivation with ecological advantages. The local standard of “natural growth for over 15 years” and precision management have become the foundation for premium quality and long-term industrial growth.
Technological upgrading and R&D are key to increasing added value. Huinan Changlong Biochemical Pharmaceutical’s Compound Huonaoshu Capsule has been selected as a provincial “Intelligent Manufacturing and Digital Transformation” project. Wantong Pharmaceutical,leveraging its CNAS-certified laboratory, has pushed several ginseng-based drugs into clinical trials—transforming “good ginseng” into “good medicine.”
Meanwhile, Changlongyuan Biotechnology, with 20,000 mu of forest-grown ginseng resources, is focusing on health food development, helping ginseng evolve from a raw material into a high-value product.
Digital Supervision: Opening the Channel for Higher Prices
“In the past, ginseng was sold at the price of radishes—the real issue was the lack of standards and supervision,” said Li Yan, Vice Mayor of Baishan.To address this, Baishan has built a “7+3” industrial system and launched China’s first Digital Ginseng program. Through geolocation tagging, growth monitoring, and harvesting traceability, each ginseng plant is now assigned a digital ID, ensuring full traceability from the field to consumers.
By 2025, Baishan plans to establish 600 mu of high-standard seed fields and 13 planting bases, advance 5 key technological projects, and apply 16 research achievements, further solidifying the quality foundation.
In Yanji, Jilin Hanzheng Ginseng Co., Ltd. has improved extraction technology to raise added value, achieving annual cosmetic exports of 80 million yuan. The Yanbian Pengcheng Ginseng Trading Market,operating through an “offline + online” model, has exceeded 5 billion yuan in annual transactions, becoming a crucial hub connecting markets in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
Government–Enterprise Synergy: Building a “Fast Track” for Growth
Active government support has given enterprises new confidence. In Tonghua, initiatives such as “Secretary’s Appointment for Business Support” and “One Enterprise, One Task Force” have effectively resolved company challenges.
A Wantong Pharmaceutical representative noted, “With the government proactively addressing our needs, we’re much more confident about expanding R&D and production.”Baishan has demonstrated strong commitment to collaboration in investment promotion, announcing plans to build a health and wellness industrial cluster, cultivating leading enterprises such as CR Hezhantang and Tongrentang, and leveraging the opening of the Shenbai High-Speed Railway to promote “Ginseng + Cultural Tourism” integration.
Yanji, guided by its ‘One Core, Two Wings, Three Zones’ development plan, aims to establish the largest ginseng trading and distribution center in Northeast Asia, offering the “Three Bests” — the best policies, governance, and resource support. The city also encourages financial institutions to participate, providing comprehensive backing for private enterprises.
Collaborative Progress: Drawing a New Map for the Industry
According to Wu Dali, President of the Jilin Federation of Private Enterprises, technology and digitalization are reshaping the value chain of the ginseng industry, while government–enterprise collaboration remains the key driver of progress.
The federation plans to integrate scientific achievements and investment policies, establish a Ginseng Industry Project Database, and organize bank–enterprise matchmaking to help more private firms take root in Jilin and share in the prosperity of the ginseng economy.
With technology empowerment and government–enterprise collaboration driving the transformation, Jilin’s ginseng industry is shifting from “growing well” to “selling well” and building strong brands, achieving the true upgrade from high quality to high value.
