This research reviews China’s cordyceps fungus industry, which produces medicines and health supplements from various fungal species that grow on insects. These fungi have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and are now a multi-billion dollar industry. The most valuable species is the natural Chinese cordyceps, which can cost up to $60,000 per kilogram. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides alternative treatment options for various conditions like asthma, kidney problems and fatigue • Creates significant income opportunities for local communities in Tibet and surrounding regions who collect wild cordyceps • Makes traditional Chinese medicine more accessible through mass-produced fungal supplements • Drives scientific research into new pharmaceutical compounds from fungal sources • Contributes to conservation efforts due to the high value and endangered status of wild cordyceps