The digital seedling breeding center for Chinese herbal medicine in Songyang county, Lishui. [Photo/WeChat account: zgsynews]

Relying on its rich natural resources and extensive forestry industry, Songyang county – administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – has been actively exploring the integrated development of traditional Chinese medicine, the health industry and culture in recent years.

The county is reportedly aiming to develop a multi-model TCM industry and create a commercial window for the local TCM culture.

At the digital seedling breeding center for Chinese herbal medicine in Songyang, the electronic screen in the greenhouse shows the temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentrations and other parameters of the seedling house in real time.

The staff there can also remotely control the greenhouses through smart phones – opening sprinkler irrigation, adjusting the sunshades, water curtains and other equipment through an onscreen switch.

The breeding center, which covers an area of 3,200 square meters, was completed and started operating in 2020 and it now utilizes a comprehensive, efficient seedling breeding technology system. At present, it can cultivate more than 200,000 high-quality seedlings every year.

To promote the large-scale plantation of Chinese herbal medicine, Songyang county also encourages village collectives and specialized agricultural cooperatives to grow TCM crops.

In 2020, the county planted about 1,716 hectares of TCM herbs, realizing an output value of 54.8 million yuan ($8.47 million).

In addition, Songyang makes use of the local TCM culture. Attracted by its traditional villages, tourists are also being catered to by the county, which has built a TCM healthcare complex and a TCM cultural area to further boost rural economic development.