Chinese medicinal food embodies the wisdom of Chinese health preservation. It is not only a dietary remedy for nurturing the body but also a life philosophy that transcends time and integrates into daily life.

The medicinal cuisine culture of Henan Province is deeply rooted and has a long history. As the hometown of Zhang Zhongjing, the "Sage of Medicine," his enduring classic, the "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases," ingrained the concept of "food and medicine sharing the same origin" into the DNA of Chinese civilization. For thousands of years, the people of Henan have utilized nature's gifts and passed down skills with craftsmanship, integrating this health-preserving wisdom into their daily meals. This has enabled medicinal cuisine to carry both the medical value of preventing and treating diseases and the cultural essence of "harmony between nature and humanity," making it a unique and mellow hallmark of Central Plains culture.

To rejuvenate this millennia-old wisdom, Henan has used innovation as the key to create the large-scale cultural program Chinese Medicinal Food. Using television as a bridge and integrating authoritative resources with cutting-edge audio-visual technology, the program brings ancient medicinal cuisine from classical texts to the public, moving it from specialized fields into ordinary homes.

The program uses the twenty-four solar terms as a narrative thread. It employs cinematic-style historical dramas to transport viewers back in time, allowing them to witness the benevolent hearts of ancient sages. Utilizing virtual production technology, it animates texts from ancient texts, staging vivid and engaging "time-travel dramas of medicinal cuisine." The camera also delves into the fields to explore the origins of authentic medicinal herbs and documents the dedication of inheritors of time-honored brands. All this aims to inspire audiences to personally taste and practice medicinal cuisine, striving to create a cultural feast that is "watchable, perceivable, and practicable."

The birth of Chinese Medicinal Food consolidates Henan's status as a significant birthplace of Chinese medicine culture. Furthermore, aligning with the "Healthy China" strategy, it transforms specialized health preservation knowledge into accessible life guidance. It builds a bridge connecting tradition and modernity, China and the world, destined to let this millennia-old fragrance of medicine drift towards a broader future.

Web editors: Shen Jianqi, Li Siyao