07-01
Meet Chen Baizhong: Where Time, Sunlight, and Tradition Craft Legacy
2025-07-01
In Xinhui, China, the Xijiang and Tanjiang Rivers meet. On one side, Guifeng Mountain rises in green; on the other, Gudou Mountain rests in silence.
The land is alive with spirit, and the seasons bring their own flavor. For over a thousand years, it has quietly given rise to a unique treasure: Xinhui Aged Tangerine Peel.
Chen Baizhong is the fourth-generation inheritor of Xin Bao Tang and a recognized master of the nationally listed traditional craft of Xinhui Chenpi processing.
His family’s story with Chenpi began over a century ago. For four generations, the Chens have lived and worked with this time-honored tradition. As a child, Chen Baizhong slept beside the aging peel, growing up surrounded by its deep, earthy scent. Today, he carries forward the care, skill, and persistence of his ancestors.
Time moves on, but the traditional method remain. At Xin Bao Tang, the traditional craft passed down through generations is still followed, just as it was. From harvest to aging, the process takes around three years. Over time, the peel dries out, absorbs moisture, goes through summer heat and winter chill, allowing each piece to “breathe” and slowly develop, much like something alive. These natural ups and downs help it slowly mature. Like anything shaped by time, it changes quietly. Its texture thickens, its color deepens.
At Xin Bao Tang, what is preserved here is not just a traditional herb, it reflects a Chinese way of living—where taking time is not a delay, but a way to stay in harmony with nature.
Honoring tradition does not mean resisting change. While Xin Bao Tang remains committed to traditional practices, it is also actively exploring new methods.
The guiding belief has always been clear: to carry tradition forward without being bound by it, and to innovate without forgetting one’s origins. By adopting smart agriculture, Xin Bao Tang has brought new possibilities to its tangerine peel plantations, greatly enhancing how the fruit is cultivated from the ground up.
At the same time, responding to today’s faster pace of life, it has expanded beyond the traditional space. Through cross-industry collaborations, the team has developed a range of “Chenpi+” products, bringing new life to this age-old ingredient and making it part of modern everyday living.
Xinhui Chenpi is more than a traditional Chinese medicinal ingredient—it carries the belief that “food and medicine come from the same source.” Tang has brought this idea further into the world of modern Chinese medicine. In partnership with the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, we developed a Chenpi-based enzyme product inspired by traditional TCM herbal formulas.
With Hong Kong Baptist University, we are also working on new medicines based on the unique properties of Xinhui Chenpi. To support this work, Xin Bao Tang has established its own pharmaceutical company, healthcare firm, and a TCM clinic. Through these platforms, we are sharing the heritage of Chenpi processing with the world.
With centuries of craftsmanship behind it, this humble peel has become more than an ingredient—it is a symbol of Eastern herbal culture, carrying with it the deeper philosophy of ancient China: using everyday things to express deeper meaning.
“A single leaf captures the cosmos; a humble peel carries centuries.” From branch to drying ground, from clay jars to modern labs, the story of Xinhui Chenpi has never stood still. Like a person, it matures over time—gaining depth, character, and meaning with each passing year.
Today, Xinhui Chenpi has become a messenger for Chinese medicine, building a bridge between East and West, and helping the world better understand the philosophy behind TCM.