Taiji Pharmaceutical Factory in Chongqing: Photo credit: @ Gerald Mbanda

By Gerald Mbanda

The Taiji Group Chongqing Fuling Pharmaceutical Factory, located in the Fuling
District of Chongqing, is not merely a pharmaceutical plant; it is one of China's largest modern traditional medicine production centers, capable of producing billions of medicinal doses annually while combining ancient Chinese medical knowledge with cutting-edge industrial technology. As a flagship enterprise of Taiji Group, the factory plays a significant role in safeguarding public health, advancing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and contributing to the country's economic development. Its products are widely used across China and have become trusted household medicines for millions of people.

The factory was founded in Fuling in 1972 and later became part of Sinopharm. Today, the Fuling plant employs more than 1,500 workers and serves as a national model for intelligent pharmaceutical manufacturing. The factory is particularly renowned for producing traditional Chinese medicines that combine centuries-old
medical knowledge with modern pharmaceutical technology. Among its most famous products is Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid, a herbal medicine commonly used to treat digestive disorders, heatstroke, nausea, diarrhea, and symptoms caused by changes in weather. During hot summers, many Chinese families keep this medicine at home as a first-aid remedy.

Photo: @ Gerald Mbanda

What makes the Taiji Group Fuling Pharmaceutical Factory special is its successful
integration of traditional Chinese medicine with modern scientific manufacturing methods. When I visited the factory recently with a team of colleagues from other countries around the world, we were amazed to see that a doctor was able to carry out disease diagnosis by simply touching veins on our hands. Staff also demonstrated a Chinese martial art that promotes body wellness.

China has a rich history of herbal medicine stretching back thousands of years.
The factory preserves this heritage while employing advanced research laboratories, automated production lines, strict quality-control systems, and modern packaging technologies. This combination ensures that traditional remedies meet contemporary standards of safety, efficacy, and consistency. The factory's production process begins with the careful selection of medicinal herbs sourced from different parts of China. Many of these herbs are cultivated in controlled environments to ensure purity and quality. The raw materials undergo rigorous inspection before being processed into medicines. Advanced extraction technologies are used to obtain the active medicinal ingredients while preserving their therapeutic properties.

According to available public data, Taiji Factory, generates an estimated annual industrial output value of more than 2.3 billion yuan (US$320–420 million) in recent years and plays a significant role in the group's pharmaceutical production network, which records annual revenues exceeding 10 billion yuan (about US$1.5 billion).

The ingredients used in many Taiji medicines are derived from natural plants and herbs that have long been valued in Chinese medicine. For example, Huoxiang Liquid contains herbs such as patchouli (Huoxiang), perilla leaf, angelica root, licorice root, pinellia, and other traditional medicinal plants. These ingredients work together according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine to restore balance within the body and promote recovery from illness. The use of natural herbal ingredients has contributed to the popularity of these
medicines among Chinese consumers.
Beyond healthcare, the factory is a major contributor to China's economy.
It provides employment opportunities for thousands of workers, including researchers, pharmacists, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff. The pharmaceutical industry generates significant economic activity through research and development, manufacturing, transportation, marketing, and retail distribution. As one of the leading pharmaceutical enterprises in western China,
the Taiji Group supports local economic growth and industrial development in
Chongqing and surrounding regions.


The factory also contributes to China's national strategy of promoting traditional Chinese medicine as an important component of healthcare. In recent years, the Chinese government has invested heavily in the modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine.
Companies such as Taiji Group help preserve China's cultural heritage while expanding the global influence of Chinese medical practices.
Furthermore, the factory strengthens China's pharmaceutical self-reliance by producing essential medicines domestically. This capability is particularly important during public health emergencies, when a stable supply of medicines is crucial for protecting the population. Domestic pharmaceutical production reduces dependence on imports and enhances national health security.

The Taiji Group Chongqing Fuling Pharmaceutical Factory is far more than a
medicine manufacturer. It is a symbol of China's ability to combine ancient wisdom with modern innovation. Through its production of high-quality medicines, promotion of traditional Chinese medicine, creation of employment opportunities, and contribution to economic growth, the factory has become an important institution serving both the health and prosperity of the Chinese
people. Its success demonstrates how tradition and technology can work together to improve lives and support national development.

African countries with vast herbs of traditional medicine can learn from Chinese experience and partners with Chinese companies to begin manufacturing high quality African traditional medicine and stop relying entirely on importing western medicines. The success of the Taiji Group Chongqing Fuling Pharmaceutical Factory in manufacturing medicines using indigenous plants is a good learning lesson for African countries.

The author is a Researcher and Publisher on China-Africa Cooperation and
Development