Because it grows only in Qinghai, Tibet, Si-chuan and Yunnan at an elevation of 3000-5000 meters, it has always been rather expensive. In 1993, when runners trained by mainland track coach Ma Junren broke world record after world record and Ma attributed their success to their taking C. sinensis, this rare and expensive fungus became highly sought after.
由於冬蟲夏草產地只在青海、西藏、四川、雲南的三千至五千公尺地方，加上一九九三年，大陸田徑教練馬俊仁所訓練的馬家軍田徑好手，在國際田徑賽中接二連三地打破世界記錄，馬俊仁表示這是因為選手們飲用冬蟲夏草的結果，一時間，使得原本就量少價高的蟲草更是炙手可熱。