Zhongning County belongs to Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. "Hui" is common calling of Chinese Muslims, who are descendants of traders settled in China from Persian Gulf countries over one thousand years ago. Hui takes about 40% of total population in Ningxia, with majority residing in Southern mountainous counties. Zhongning county is located at the middle-upper reach of the Yellow River. Geographically Zhongning belongs to typical continental semi-arid climate, with 8 inches (200 mm) of annual precipitation. This climate features strong solar radiation, large daily temperature range and low relative humility, which creates best natural environment for growing goji. The other factor that makes Zhongning the best place to grow high quality goji is its soil and irrigation. Zhongning is located at the northern tip of China's Losses Platueau and the soils are rich in multiple minerals (especially some very rare minerals as Lithium, Selenium, and Germanium) and organic matter

excellent for fruit crops to grow. Yellow River provides abuntant water to irrigate goji and other crops.

(Geographic location of 'hometown of goji', go-goji.com, 2008)

Zhongning is blessed with such unique combination of climate, soil and irrigation that makes it the best area for goji cultivation and production in the history. It is well known that goji berries, leaves, twigs and roots are all of health benefits. The great Chinese physician and pharmacologist Li Shi Zheng (1518-1593) had following description of Zhongning goji in his immortal medical bibliography BenCao GangMu:

"Goji leaves harvested in spring are called heavenly essense; flowers harvested in summer are called longevity flower; berries harvested in autumn are called go-qi-zi (goji); roots harvested in winter are called di-gu-pi (skin of bones of the earth)."  

Goji, as an anti-aging and immunization improving tonic, has been used in Chinese medicine practice and prescriptions over a thousand of years. Goji berries were initially picked from wild goji bush (see goji legend), over the history wild goji was gradually domesticated by ancient Chinese herbalists. According to provincial governmental document, commercialized production of goji started 600 years ago in Zhongning county. In a document of 1501, it was reported Zhonging goji was presented to the Emperor as a special produce from Ningxia. Li Shi Zheng mentioned in his BenCao GangMu 'goji all over the world are produced in Zhongning'.

Goji production had been limited in Zhongning area until late 1960's when goji was introduced to adjacent counties of Zhongning to meet increasing demand of Chinese medicine market. In Chinese Pharmacopoeia stipulated in 1963, Ningxia goji (mainly Zhongning goji) was approved as only goji variety to be used in physician's presciptions and sold in drug stores. 

Zhongning was offcially named as 'Hometown of Goji' in 1995 by State Council of Chinese Central Government. In 2001, 'Zhongning Goji' trademark was approved by Department of Industry and Commerce of Chinese Central Government. Currently more than 30,000 acres of agricultural land used for growing goji in Zhongning.

Dreamland goji farm endeavors to promote authentic Zhongning goji in North America. Our trustworthy partners in Zhongning, China are working with us to provide you with best goji product. Please contact us if you want to learn more of goji and its original production place.