Baishan, known as the hometown of ginseng in China and the international mineral water city, will consolidate the development of its ginseng and mineral water industries in 2017, according to Wang Zhihou, mayor of Baishan City.

Ginseng

Baishan City is the largest ginseng production base in Jilin province and the biggest ginseng trade base in China. Its trading volume accounts for 70 percent of the province’s and 50 percent of the entire nation’s.

Wang referred to four ways of further promoting the ginseng industry in the city, namely constructing a ginseng research center to explore the best area to plant the herb, developing a zero-pesticide approach to planting, introducing a deep processing program and further developing the health care industry by establishing a bio-pharmaceutical industry fund.

Wang Zhihou, mayor of Baishan City, Jilin province. [Photo/chinajilin.com.cn]

"Baicheng is intending to develop a whole ginseng industrial chain," said Wang.

Mineral water

There are more than 130 natural mineral water sources in Baishan City, 30 of which have been developed.

Protecting the water sources is vital. The Baishan government has bordered off a protection area to help maintain the available resources.

Wang also mentioned that a new medical mineral water, which contains more microelements, is being researched. "We can promote mineral water into high-end markets through improving its quality," he said.

Additionally, Nongfu Spring, a drinking water producer in China, and Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical, a pharmaceutical company, have signed to establish two mineral water research programs in the city in 2017.

Tourism

It is predicted that 360,000 tourists will come to Changbai Mountain this year to enjoy skiing and the splendid winter scenery.

Wang suggested that an international tourism ice town and a "One Mountain One Lake" program, costing 5.5 billion yuan ($803.21 million) and 2.7 billion yuan, might settle in Baishan.

Meanwhile, "a 500-kilometer tourism road will be constructed along the Yalu River," Wang added.