This 2,000-kilometer journey to trace the origins of authentic Northwest medicinal herbs takes QiFuYuan as the representative enterprise of Zhongning goji berries, gradually unveiling a quality panorama from the “Home of Chinese Goji Berries.” With a 6,300-mu exclusive goji berry base, production lines that meet pharmaceutical-grade standards, and 26 years of unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, QiFuYuan has demonstrated to the inspection delegation its stringent quality control system—from the fields all the way to the consumer’s palate.

As the inspection delegation entered the state-of-the-art, fully integrated processing plant—built with an investment of RMB 90 million—their eyes were immediately drawn to multiple production lines, including those for traditional Chinese medicinal decoction pieces and organic goji berry exports, with a combined annual capacity of 7,000 metric tons. At the testing center, high-performance liquid chromatography instruments are conducting comprehensive screenings on goji berry products for 26 parameters, covering pesticide residues and microbial contamination, all in strict accordance with GMP standards for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Upon entering the production base, state-of-the-art intelligent sorting equipment conducts a meticulous “health check” on every single goji berry, scrutinizing its size, color, and plumpness—no minute defect can escape detection. Meanwhile, in the testing center, high-performance liquid chromatographs and heavy-metal analyzers operate in tandem to ensure that every quality parameter meets the stringent standards required for pharmaceutical-grade products.

In November 2025, the official approval of the company’s Drug Production License marked the official entry of QiFuYuan’s goji berry slices into a new era of pharmaceutical-grade management. During the on-site visit by the ZhiGu Group team to the GMP-compliant clean workshop, the enclosed production environment and the intelligent temperature and humidity control system vividly demonstrated the paramount importance of “safety” in the company’s production practices. From traditional agricultural products to standardized Chinese medicinal materials, QiFuYuan has successfully embarked on an innovative path of quality upgrading.

QiFuYuan owns a total of 6,300 mu of plantations, including a certified 650-mu organic cultivation area and a 2,000-mu “zero pesticide residue” managed cultivation area at its goji berry base in Mingsha. As the founder, Mr. Lü, said: “The land never deceives anyone; only by guarding it with dedication can we reap the richest rewards.”

“When it comes to Chinese goji berries, look to Ningxia; and when it comes to Ningxia’s goji berries, look to Zhongning”—this industry consensus is underpinned by nature’s bountiful endowments. Zhongning goji berries thrive thanks to irrigation from the confluence of the Yellow River and the mineral-rich, slightly alkaline Qing Shui River; the alluvial plains where they are cultivated boast flood-irrigated silt soils rich in trace elements such as selenium, lithium, zinc, and iron. Coupled with an average of about 3,000 hours of ample sunshine per year and a pronounced diurnal temperature range, these conditions foster the full accumulation of sugars and bioactive polysaccharides in the berries. Designated by the State Council as the “Home of Chinese Goji Berries,” this region boasts more than six centuries of cultivation history, which has nurtured unique varietal resources and time-honored farming traditions—laying a solid genetic foundation for the authentic medicinal quality of its goji products.

“Since entering the industry in 1999, I have regarded the goji berry business as a lifelong pursuit,” Chairman Lü Yubao, the founder, often shares with his team. Starting from a stall-based wholesale operation at Guangzhou QiFuYuan Trading Firm in 2004, to the official establishment of Zhongning County QiFuYuan Trading Co., Ltd. in 2010; from the first processing plant set up in Yumen, Gansu Province in 2014, to the current nationwide industrial layout covering Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai—through 25 years of ups and downs, we have always stayed true to our simple original aspiration: “Be a good person and produce high-quality goji berries.”

This traceability journey undertaken by ZhiGu Group is not only a thorough verification of product quality but also a profound resonance of shared values. Zhongning goji berries are nature’s gift, the culmination of cutting-edge technology, and, above all, the steadfast legacy of two generations of goji enthusiasts dedicated to the cause of health. Moving forward, we will continue to embrace an open-minded approach, sharing our supply-chain resources to enable more people to appreciate the unique allure of Ningxia goji berries and to jointly promote the preservation and innovation of goji-based wellness culture.

Twenty-five years is just a new beginning. Adhering to quality and inheriting culture, the story of QiFuYuan continues to unfold...