The cruise ship Azamara Pursuit, carrying more than 600 international visitors, docked at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal at the North Bund on Oct 22, where passengers were greeted by a pop-up market offering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experiences.

The event combined TCM experiences with intangible cultural heritage displays to welcome the foreign guests.

Organized by the Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, the TCM booth quickly became a top attraction.

Visitors queued for traditional pulse-taking diagnoses, with practitioners offering health insights based on TCM practices.

Nearby, the shoulder-and-neck massage station drew long lines, with visitors seeking massages designed to ease travel fatigue.

The market also showcased heritage crafts such as paper flower-flipping (fanhua), tea ceremonies, and lacquer fan-making, and offered tourists exclusive itineraries to local landmarks such as the Shanghai Haipai Culture Center.

The event capitalized on North Bund's port advantages and China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy. Hongkou district aims to amplify its port spillover effects and boost inbound tourism spending, and the market will return in mid-November when the cruise ship Luminara arrives.

Source: Shanghai Hongkou district government