Ejiao, or donkey-hide gelatin, was first recorded in "Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Shu" ("Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica"), which was compiled by people living during the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-AD 220) in the name of Shen Nong, the legendary farmer's god and the first herbalist. For more than 2,000 years since then, Ejiao has been referred to as one of the "three nourishing treasures (zi bu san bao)", along with ginseng and the antlers of young deer.

Ejiao, which Li Shizhen (1518–1593), a traditional Chinese medicine expert, referred to as a "holy medicine" long ago, originally gained popularity in the imperial family before being well-known to the general public, according to Li's "Bencao Gangmu" ("Compendium of Materia Medica").

Dong'e county in East China's Shandong province is where Dong'e Ejiao Co is located, which is now China's largest donkey-hide gelatin producer. In recent years, the company has adopted innovative ways to promote inheriting the skills for making Ejiao. It also launched projects to integrate traditional Chinese medicine with tourism and healthcare, aiming to build an entire industrial chain to promote the county's high-quality development.

Dong'e Ejiao is a gelatin used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve blood circulation and boost energy levels. [Photo/VCG]