Sangzhi County lies at the northern foot of the Wuling Mountains in Hunan Province. It is one of the world's200 most important ecological regions and has been called a rare gene bank of species. Its270,000 mu of lush, wild zongzi-leaf forests produce thick, supple leaves with a clean fragrance that withstand both boiling and prolonged soaking. They are ideal natural liners for food packaging and high-end baking and have become"golden leaves" of prosperity for mountain communities.
In2021,"Sangzhi Zongzi Leaves" was registered as a national geographical indication certification mark. With support from the China National Intellectual Property Administration, Sangzhi County made the zongzi-leaf industry a priority, using geographical indication protection to unlock the value of its natural resources and build the"Sangzhi Zongzi Leaves" regional brand. Today, Sangzhi supplies80 percent of China's zongzi-leaf market. Backed by national geographical indication certification, in recent years, Sangzhi zongzi-leaf companies have taken their products to exhibit abroad, steadily expanding into overseas markets.