Pingba Old Town in Wenshan City, Wenshan Prefecture

Chinese Name:文山市平坝古镇
English Name: Pingba Old Town in Wenshan City, Wenshan Prefecture

Pingba Old Town: A Historic Stop on the Ancient Tea Horse Road

Pingba Old Town, located in Wenshan City, Wenshan Prefecture, has a rich history as a key station on the ancient Tea Horse Road, once renowned as a bustling marketplace. The town is famously recognized as the birthplace of artificial cultivation and successful planting of Panax notoginseng (三七), earning it the title “Ancient Town of Panax Notoginseng in China.” It was designated as a historical and cultural town in Yunnan Province in 2013 and recognized as a national-level historical and cultural town on February 21, 2019.

Time Travel: A Journey Back to Ancient Town

With a history spanning thousands of years, Pingba is enriched by Tusi culture (local chieftain system) and Ming dynasty military garrison culture. The town’s unique cultural landscape, humanistic heritage, and rustic customs paint a picturesque rural scene. The bluestone streets, polished by time, tell the tales of prosperity and decline. Once a bustling hub of merchants and mule teams, today, it’s a place where common people lead simple, fulfilling lives.

The Medicine King: The Longevity Village in Laojun Mountain

Pingba Old Town retains its ancient charm with stone-paved paths and old wooden houses. Streetside shops sell local delicacies like buckwheat crisps, stinky tofu, and pea flour. The aroma of home-cooked meals and laughter emanates from every window, creating a serene and timeless atmosphere.

Pingba, situated at an altitude of about 1,800 meters, lies on the Tropic of Cancer, meeting the ideal conditions for cultivating Panax notoginseng. This area is renowned for being one of the first to successfully cultivate this valuable medicinal herb.

Ren Huaixiang: The Local Medicine Expert

Ren Huaixiang, a well-known figure in Pingba, started learning traditional medicine at age 12. Over the years, he explored the Laojun Mountain range, identifying and cultivating many wild medicinal plants. He founded the Wenshan Traditional Ethnic Medicine Science and Technology Research Institute after retiring from the Wenshan Health School in 2009, dedicating his time to researching Panax notoginseng and ethnic medicine.

The Secrets of Longevity in Laojun Mountain

Laojun Mountain, with its 360,000 acres of virgin forest, is the source of the Panlong River and home to a wide variety of medicinal plants. The nearby Miao villages are known for their centenarians, a testament to the local use of natural herbs, including wild Panax notoginseng. Local centenarians, such as Xiang Wenlong (107), Xiang Youshou (105), and Tao Faxiou (103), attribute their longevity to the consumption of Panax notoginseng.

Ren Huaixiang’s Herbal Garden

Ren Huaixiang has a 400-acre herbal garden in Laojun Mountain, cultivating over 200 representative medicinal plants, including endangered species, which he discovered and transplanted from the mountain. His efforts aim to protect these valuable resources for future generations.

The Legacy of Panax Notoginseng

Pingba is home to both elder experts like Ren Huaixiang and new generations dedicated to the development of ethnic medicine and the health industry. Zhang Yunsheng, born in Wenshan in 1963, is a notable figure in this legacy. Inspired by his work with experts and researchers, Zhang has been actively involved in refining Panax notoginseng products, ensuring they meet food safety standards while maintaining their health benefits.

Panax Notoginseng on the World Stage

In November 2019, at the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Jinqi Pharmaceutical’s “Fresh Panax Notoginseng Oral Liquid” was showcased, introducing Panax notoginseng to a global audience. Zhang Yunsheng’s life goal is to establish Wenshan Panax notoginseng as a world-renowned brand, promoting human health.

Traces of History: The Atmosphere of a 600-Year Legacy

Walking along the old streets of Pingba Town, one can almost hear the echoes of its bustling past. Despite the passage of time, the town retains its ancient charm with wooden houses and cobblestone streets. Local delicacies like stinky tofu and pea flour are still popular among residents and visitors alike. The tradition of making buckwheat crisps, passed down through generations, continues to thrive, with local families producing and selling this treat far and wide.

The Future of Pingba: A Continued Legacy of Herbal Cultivation

The residents of Pingba primarily engage in cultivating crops such as Panax notoginseng, ginger, tobacco, and pinellia. Many large-scale Panax notoginseng cultivators, originating from Pingba, have expanded their farming to other regions like Yanshan, Jianshui, Qiubei, Malipo, Guangnan, and Lijiang, ensuring the continued prosperity of this ancient trade.