Preface

Qichun County, once the birthplace of a noted Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) medical sage,has witnessed tremendous social change and economic prosperity.In recent years, this small and age-old county in Hubei Province has been dotted with vigor and vibrancy. The agriculture based economy, in this capital of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) thousands of years ago, is now being rapidly replaced by the modern health industry.

In the spirit of liberating thoughts and seeking comprehensive development,Qichun County Government has been committed to developing local cultural resources passed down from Li Shizhen(also Li Shih-chen, 1518-1593), the ancient medical sage. By developing the brand of Li Shizhen, the government intends to accelerate the adjustment of urban industrial structures, transforming local economic development modes and speeding up the integration of regional development and national strategic planning for the development of TCM. By integrating domestic and international resources and cooperating with top enterprises, the government adopts the“medicine and tourism linkage” strategy to promote the local health industry guided by the principle of “seeking development through innovation, getting upgraded in the development path, and reaching an overall growth by continuously upgrading the county.” Qichun, the ancient “Millennia Medicine Town” has now renewed its vitality from the new born mugwort (Artemisia argyi) industry. This rejuvenated medical county is now turning a new page in history.

This collection is a rare record of Qichun’s arduous journey towards the development of the local health industry and a vivid account of the founding of the“Capital of Chinese Mugwort” in an attempt to promote Li Shizhen culture, revitalize the TCM industry, and boost the “Healthy China” program to the fullest. At the 500th anniversary of the birth of Li Shizhen,we sincerely hope that our readers and TCM practitioners will remain true to our ancestors, always keep our missions at heart, and devote ourselves to the research of TCM while also inheriting the wealth of knowledge before us, which will surely yield more new products and benefit the human world.

前 言

医圣故里千帆竞,蕲阳大地万象新。近年来，湖北省蕲春县发生着翻天覆地的变化。这个千年药都正在破茧化蝶，以农耕为主的时代正在被以现代中医药健康产业为主的工业化时代所取代。

蕲春县解放思想求发展，系列开发李时珍人文资源，高举高打李时珍品牌，加快城市格局调整和发展方式转型，加快融入区域发展战略和国家中医药发展战略规划布局，整合县内外资源，携手央企，大力实施“药旅联动”战略，积极推进大健康产业布局，在创新中发展，在发展中提升，在提升中不断壮大。 “千年药都”从一棵艾草焕发新活力，振兴药都，而今迈步从头越。

谨以此辑记录该县发展大健康产业的艰辛探索，创建“中国艾都”的生动实践，弘扬李时珍文化、振兴中医药事业、推进“健康中国”建设的不懈追求。使命呼唤担当，使命引领未来。在纪念李时珍诞辰500周年之际，鼓励广大读者和中医药工作者，不忘先祖，努力前行，传承中医药文化，投身中医药研究，多出成果，造福人类。

被赋予蕲春精神（仁和智毅）的“蕲春四宝”