Dong'e county in Shandong province played host to the 11th Dongzhi Ejiao Festival on Dec 22, to promote the traditional tonic donkey hide gelatin.

The day also marked the beginning of Winter Solstice (Chinese: 冬至), the 22nd solar term of the year, which is an important solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar and is believed to be the best time for taking tonics according to TCM.

As a typical tonic in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), donkey hide gelatin, known as ejiao in Chinese, can help improve blood circulation and boost energy levels. 

Dong'e county in Shandong province hosts the 11th Dongzhi Ejiao Festival on Dec 22, in a bid to promote the traditional tonic donkey hide gelatin. [Photo/WeChat account:CNS-SD]

"We have hosted the event for 11 consecutive years, aiming to further inherit and publicize the ancient Chinese medical culture," said Qin Yufeng, CEO of Dong'e Ejiao Co Ltd, the largest producer of ejiao products.

The ejiao making method is a national-class intangible cultural heritage with a history of nearly 3,000 years. Qin is the inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage item. His company has been engaging in improving ejiao recipes for decades, in an effort to produce better tonic to help people be healthy.

Qin recommended that being healthy is the key to enjoying a good life and ejiao can play a useful role in this aspect. Dong'e Ejiao Co Ltd, adhering to the mission of prolonging people's life, strove to advocate a healthy lifestyle and arouse people's interests in traditional medicine culture.

Qin Yufeng, CEO of Dong'e Ejiao Co Ltd, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 11th Dongzhi Ejiao Festival on Dec 22 in Dong'e county of Shandong province. [Photo/WeChat account:CNS-SD]

Fang Shuting, president of China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, explained that TCM is a treasure of ancient Chinese science which should be widely employed in the practice of health maintenance. Fang spoke highly of the annual Dongzhi Ejiao Festival which he thinks can promote TCM and ejiao industries and thus improve people's health.

"Ejiao is a top tonic of traditional Chinese medicine," Fang said. After long periods of clinical practice, it has been proved that ejiao plays an irreplaceable role in improving people's health.

Ma Guangpeng, head of Dong'e county, also spoke at the festival by saying that the festival has become the carrier of ejiao intangible cultural heritage and a symbol of traditional Chinese medicine.

The traditional rituals of making ejiao are performed on Dec 22 during the 11th Dongzhi Ejiao Festival in Dong'e county of Shandong province. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The county of E'dong is the birthplace of ejiao. It plans to transfer itself into a provider of health service and products from the health product manufacturer by establishing an industrial chain covering donkey breeding, ejiao producing and tourism featuring health experience.

During the festival, Dong'e Ejiao Co Ltd established a contribution award for those experts who have made outstanding contribution to the ejiao industry.

Nine scholars and experts, including Xiao Chengcong, chief professor of Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and Shi Qi, lifetime professor from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, were granted with the award.