Abstract: Chinese liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fiseh.) was cultivated in Harbin since 1962. The morphology and microscopical features of 1 to 4 years old roots are described and illustrated with plates. The contents of water-soluble substances, glycyrrhizic acid and total reducing sugar of the roots are analysed and the results compared in the following table: Age of root water-soluble substances % glycyrrhizic acid % total reducing sugar % 1 43.89 5.49 19.82 2 41.01 6.76 13.66 3 42.86 9.48 12.75 4 39.96 10.52 12.22 it is clear that the 2 to 4 years old roots comform the requirments of Chinese pharmacopoeia in all respects. Therefore, the liquorice plant can be cultivated in Northeast China and the 3 years old root may be harvested and used for the making of liquorice extracts as it has not only the high yield of root, but also the high contents of water-soluble extractives and glycyrrhizic acid.