National legislators and political advisers are gathering in Beijing for the two sessions, the annual meetings of China's top legislative and political advisory bodies.

Huang Wenxiu, a deputy to the National People's Congress and former Party secretary of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, is focusing on the high-quality development of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry.

Huang has emphasized the multifaceted value of TCM as a national treasure, highlighting its roles in health, economy, culture, ecology, and technology.

"One important path to advancing rural vitalization through TCM is expanding the cultivation of medicinal herbs," said Huang, explaining that cultivating these herbs not only increases income but also stimulates the upstream and downstream industrial chains, creating diverse new rural business models.

Huang cited Quzhou in Zhejiang province as a historical producer of dried tangerine peel — a premium medicinal ingredient — with a cultivation history spanning over 2,000 years.

Due to the renowned authenticity of Quzhou dried tangerine peel as a medicinal ingredient, the Qujiang Research Institute of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University initiated the "Quzhou Tangerine Peel" industrial project.

Through collaborations among local government, research institutes, and enterprises, this project has established a comprehensive industry system, from cultivating and processing to research and development.

This initiative has transformed Quzhou, where 1,000 to 1,500 metric tons of dried tangerine peel are now produced annually and the industry's output value has reached 300 million yuan ($43.5 million), creating more employment opportunities for farmers.