A herbal dish at Hubin Restaurant in Pan'an county, Jinhua. [Photo/Tide News]

As summer temperatures rise, tourists are increasingly visiting Pan'an county in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, for a refreshing escape, where they can savor various herbal dishes.

Pan'an, known as the "Hometown of Chinese Medicinal Herbs", boasts over 5,333 hectares of medicinal herb plantations, generating an output of more than 1 billion yuan ($147.9 million) annually. Over 90 percent of Zhejiang's authentic medicinal herbs are sourced here.

Herbal cuisine is integral to local life. Hubin Restaurant, a local time-honored brand, is often fully booked during holidays.

Manager Hu Ping, who has studied Pan'an herbal cuisine for over 30 years, has crafted hundreds of innovative dishes. For the summer peak, the restaurant offers a special menu featuring dishes like Polygonatum pig's trotters and Dendrobium buns.

Hu not only standardized the production process for each dish, but also sends each newly created dish for inspection, evaluating its medicinal properties and nutritional composition.

To boost the "Pan'an Herbal Cuisine" brand, Pan'an has launched a training session for 42 local homestay and restaurant operators on how to prepare and present Pan'an herbal dishes. Hu, as the mentor, said Pan'an medicinal cuisine is filled with local stories for diners to savor and experience.