A group of 10 foreign professionals from local universities, research institutions, and foreign-funded enterprises recently participated in a traditional Chinese medicine session at the International Medical Services of Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital.

The session was part of the Chinese Language Training Program for Foreign Talent in Shanghai's Hongkou district.

In the medical vocabulary class, an instructor from Shanghai International Studies University guided participants through interactive scenarios to practice everyday medical communication. Participants learned how to say phrases such as "book a medical appointment" and "where does it hurt?" in Chinese.

Doctor Bo Huajun, director of the Acupuncture and Tuina Department, demonstrated the district's intangible cultural heritage technique of warm needle moxibustion, which uses silver needles to conduct heat and "warmly unblock the meridians". The demonstration highlighted the unique therapeutic effects of TCM and offered participants a firsthand experience of its preventive treatment philosophy.

One participant who tried acupuncture described it as painless yet deeply relaxing. Deputy Chief Physician Cao Yanjun performed tuina and bone-setting manipulations to adjust patients' shoulders and necks, explaining the philosophy: "Straight bones bring bodily comfort, and bodily comfort smooths the flow of energy", prompting participants to exclaim, "It really works!".

To help expats integrate into Shanghai, the Hongkou District Talent Bureau focuses on overcoming the language and cultural barriers by offering a series of specialized courses. From Chinese language lessons to hands-on cultural experience workshops, the initiative aims to foster emotional connections and deepen understanding among foreign professionals.

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Hongkou District Talent Development Service Center at "shhkrc"