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China Elevator Stories
Siping's Ginseng Shops
In Siping, you can find a few shops selling ginseng and other herbs.
23/11/2025
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
Close to the train station in Siping, you can find a few shops selling Chinese medicinal herbs, including ginseng. Some of these herbs are commonly grown in Northeast China, and Northeast Chinese ginseng is a highly sought-after medicinal herb that grows wild in the area around the Changbai Mountains, which form the border between Northeast China and North Korea. This type of ginseng is known as Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng).
It is also called the “king of herbs” due to its purported medicinal properties. It is said to enhance Qi (“life force” or energy), mental clarity, and overall vitality. One story even claims that a drop of Korean ginseng, often prepared in alcoholic solutions, can bring a person back from death. This may be a bit exaggerated, but the shops in this area show how highly prized this particular herb is in Northeast China. My former father-in-law used to drink Korean ginseng preserved in alcohol daily as a supplement.
While wild ginseng is the most sought-after variety, it is also cultivated in other areas of Northeast China to meet high market demand.
It was first mentioned in China’s first Materia Medica, the Shennong Bencao Jing (神农本草经), a book written by Shen Nong, called the “Divine Farmer,” who is said to have lived around 28 BCE and traveled through various regions of China to compile a compendium of Chinese medicinal herbs.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), not all herbs are suitable for every constitution. While ginseng is said to help with certain conditions, it is not suitable for everyone. Contraindications include high blood pressure, heart problems, and pregnancy or breastfeeding. I remember being advised not to take it myself, though I cannot recall the reason. Whether a herb is suitable depends on the individual and their specific condition, so it is best not to take it without consulting a doctor. Chinese doctors are knowledgeable in this regard, but I cannot recommend taking any Chinese herbs without understanding potential side effects, since Chinese medicine is a highly sophisticated system. Not every herb that claims to boost energy is suitable for someone with low energy.
Other popular varieties of ginseng known worldwide include American and Siberian ginseng. Because different types of ginseng have different properties, make sure you know which type is recommended.
Have you ever tried Korean ginseng?