This region includes most part of Heilongjiang Province, whole Jilin Province, east Liaoning Province and north Inner Mongolia. The physiognomy of the region is characterized by Da Xing'an Mountain range, Xiao Xing'an Mountain range, Changbai mountains range and Sanjiang Plain. Without sufficient heat resource, the region is the coldest in China, and most part of it lies in cold and moderate temperate zones with humid or semi-humid climate. There is 30% tree coverage, mainly the coniferous forest.

The region has over 2,000 kinds of Chinese materia medica, among which are about 1,700 plants, over 300 animals and 50 odd minerals. Both the number and the reserves of the wild species are great. Wild species among them are Plelodendron amurense (Guan Huangbai), Acanthopanax senticosus (Ciwujia), Schisandra chinensis (Wuweizi), Cimicifuga dahurica (Guan Shengma), Arctium lappa (Niubangzi), Plaitycodon grandiflorum (Jiegeng), Sanguisorba officinalis (Diyu), Epimedium koreanum (Yinyanghuo), Asarum herotropoides var. Mandshurcum (Liao Xixin), Viscumcoloratum (Hujisheng), Paeonia lactiflora (Chishao), Aconitum kusnezoffii (Caowu), Aristolochia mandshuriensis (Guan mutong), Fritillaria ussuriensis (Pingbeimu), Gentiana manshurica (Guan Longdan), as well as Fel Ursi (Xiongdan) and oil of Gekko gecko (hamayou). The reserves of the above species in this region account for over 50% of those in the whole country.

The region is the most important production base of wild and garden ginseng (Ye Renshen and Zhongzhi renshen) in China. Over 95% of China's ginseng production come from this region. The deer breeding and the production of pilose antler (Lurong) in this area are also important in China.

As to the development of the resources of Chinese materia medica in the region, attention should be paid to the preservation of a large area of wild resources, such as Schisandra chinensis (Wuweizi), Phel odendron amurense (Huangbai), Acanthopanax senticosus (Ciwujia), Paeonia lactiflora (Chishao), Plaitycodon grandiflorum (Jiegeng), Arctium lappa (Niubangzi), Geentiana manshurica (Guan longdan), in order for them to regenerate. On the other hand, the plantations and animal feedlots should be set up and well managed to promote the production of such drugs as Panax ginseng (Renshen), Fel Ursi (Xiongdan), pilose antler (Lurong) and oil of Gekko gecko (Hamayou). Besides, the research and the protection should be strengthened for those wild resources which are worth developing, such as Vaccinium vitisidaea (Yueju), Thododentron dauricum (Manshanhong), Araliaelata (Liaodong Congmu), Aralia continentalis (Dongbei Tudanggui), and Triperygium regelii (Dongbei Leigongteng).