Shanghai is expanding traditional Chinese medicine experiences for international visitors across museums, airports, shopping areas, and dining venues as part of a national pilot program that promotes the integration of TCM service consumption and trade in services.

Under the initiative, the city will develop visitor routes combining medical and rehabilitation services, wellness stays, and cultural experiences, while improving service standards and oversight.

At the Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine on the Zhangjiang campus of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, more than 10,000 artifacts trace the history and development of TCM. The collection spans ancient acupuncture bronze figures and prescriptions by renowned physicians to tools used in producing traditional medicines.

International visitors can learn to identify medicinal herbs, explore meridian-based wellness practices, and take part in activities such as making herbal sachets and moxa sticks.

The museum's network of cooperation now extends worldwide, supporting international exchanges in TCM culture and traditional medicine.

Beyond museums, pilot programs have brought TCM into places international travelers often visit during their trips.

During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, pop-up activities were held at service centers for international travelers at Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Visitors learned baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, made herbal sachets, and used an AI-powered device that analyzed their body constitution according to TCM principles and generated instant health reports.

TCM experiences have also entered downtown commercial areas. Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Parkway Shanghai organized an immersive event at Shanghai Plaza, where overseas visitors received TCM consultations and experienced acupuncture and tuina massage.

The idea that food and medicine share the same origins is also bringing TCM to dining tables. Xiangshan TCM Hospital has partnered with the time-honored food brand Da Fu Gui to introduce seasonal herbal pastries and drinks. The two have also developed Chinese-style wellness coffee.

Shanghai is also turning TCM experiences into regular services for international visitors. Specialist integrative medicine and tuina workstations have already opened at Parkway MediCentre Xintiandi, offering services including wellness management, cardiovascular care, postoperative rehabilitation, musculoskeletal care, acupuncture, tuina, herbal medicine, and integrated Chinese and Western medicine.

Source: Xinmin Evening News