Minghe Ancient Town./鳴鶴古鎮。 [Photo by Tang Yan] 唐嚴攝
By Xu Zhuowei
Minghe Ancient Town is located in the south of Guanhaiwei Town, Cixi County, Ningbo. It is a famous historical and cultural town in China and has a history of more than 1,200 years. Rivers run through the hillside town, in which fishermen and farmers live.
鳴鶴古鎮位于寧波市慈溪市觀海衛鎮南部，迄今已有1200余年歷史，是中國歷史文化名鎮。古鎮依山成街，因河成鎮，漁耕人家枕河而居。
Minghe Ancient Town is the birthplace of China's TCM ingredients industry, with roots that go back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The first residents of Minghe started a trade in medicinal herbs and materials, which greatly promoted the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Zhejiang and across the whole country. More than 150 centuries-old TCM ingredient brands, such as Beijing Tongrentang, Tianjin Darentang and Hangzhou Huqingyutang, were either founded or run by Minghe locals. These brands still have far-reaching influence.
鳴鶴古鎮自明清以來就是中國國藥業的發源地，鳴鶴先人在這里興辦國藥業，開創慈溪國藥貿易之先河，極大地推動了浙江乃至全國的藥業發展。從鳴鶴古鎮走出了由鳴鶴人創辦或主要經營百年以上的老字號150余家，北京同仁堂、天津達仁堂、杭州胡慶余堂等名震全國，影響深遠。
Currently, Minghe has several blocks dedicated to TCM treatment, wellness, and local culture. Every year, activities such as wellness tourism fairs and free TCM doctor consultations are organized in the town. There is also a TCM ingredients and customs museum as well as TCM-themed B&Bs. These elements highlight the town's deep ties with TCM.
目前，鳴鶴古鎮已初步形成“專業醫療、特色養生、休閑文化”等國藥養生功能板塊，每年組織古鎮養生旅游節、鳴鶴名中醫專家義診等活動，設立國藥人文展示館，打造國藥裝飾為元素的精品民宿，逐步營造國藥氛圍。