Abstract: Kan-Sung-hsiang is the dried rhizome and roots of Nardostachys chinensis Batalin, family Valerianaceae. It is an odourous perennial herb which has been used as a deodorant, carminative, stimulant, and also as a perfume for the bath since long; but now large quantities are used for the preparation of spices. The sample to be studied in this work was taken from the alpine meadow on the north-western borders of Szechuan from Sung-pan to Au-ba where the plant is indigenous at an altitude of about 3500-4000 meters. In this report the sensory, macroscopical and microscopical characters are desc- ribed in detail and illustrated with plates. The more important microscopical features of this drug are: (1) the circular layers of suberized tissue of old roots and rhizome filled with yellow to yellowish brown volatile oil; (2) stone cells in the pith of rhizome; (3) the radial elongated large parenchyma cells in the young root. Based upon the available data, we have found out that the original plant of Kan-sung-hsiang is distinct from the Indian spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi DC.) as far as the leaves are concerned. The diagnostic characters are summarized indetail in the following table: