What traditional Chinese medicinal herbs are included in the sachets made for the Dragon Boat Festival? What kind of experience does the stick needle fascia release therapy offer?
On June 6, on the eve of the traditional Chinese festival of Dragon Boat, the “Southern Wind Elegance – Encounter with TCM” event was held at the Guangzhou University Town campus of the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Jointly organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, over 30 officials and family members from 19 foreign consulates general in Guangzhou experienced the culture of traditional Chinese medicine in an immersive manner, feeling the charm of traditional Chinese healthcare.
Consular Officials Praise Traditional TCM Therapies as “Very Comfortable”
Traditional Chinese medicine is original to China, a summary of the Chinese nation's understanding of life, health maintenance, and disease prevention and treatment throughout history. The unique geographical location of Guangdong provides exceptional conditions for the inheritance and development of TCM culture.
During the experiential session on the day, Mariam Alshamsi, Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in Guangzhou, eagerly tried each project. After experiencing TCM head massage, moxibustion scraping, and other treatments, she inquired about the medicinal herbs included in the “Breath Free Tea” offered at the event.
She said, “It tastes sweet.” Mariam Alshamsi told reporters that she had previously been exposed to traditional TCM therapies such as acupuncture. After trying the TCM head massage and moxibustion scraping this time, she found it very comfortable and interesting. She also lamented, “If only I could have experienced it for longer.”
Alan Carlos Abadia, Deputy Consul General of Argentina in Guangzhou, deeply experienced the stick needle fascia release therapy in traditional TCM. After feeling the combination of moxibustion and massage techniques, Alan Carlos Abadia said, “It is incredibly comfortable; my shoulders and neck feel much more relaxed.” He added, “This was my first experience with the stick needle fascia release therapy, and I didn't expect it to be so comfortable.”
When asked about the level of acceptance of TCM in Argentina, Alan Carlos Abadia said that according to his understanding, traditional Chinese medicine is quite popular in Argentina, with many locals willing to try traditional TCM therapies like acupuncture and massage. “TCM has a very good reputation in Argentina,” he stated. Participating in this event, apart from experiencing traditional TCM therapies, the health lecture on TCM and wellness organized by the host gave him new insights into the history of TCM development and some acupoints in the human body.
Promoting Exchange and Mutual Learning in Traditional Medicine
As one of the organizers, Chen Wenfeng, Party Secretary of the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, introduced TCM culture to the guests attending the event. He noted that as an important carrier of excellent traditional Chinese culture, TCM has spread to many countries and regions worldwide, receiving broad recognition and application.
He said, “Over its century-long history, the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine has always been committed to promoting international exchanges and cooperation in traditional medicine through the medium of TCM. We have established high-quality overseas centers and international cooperation bases in multiple Belt and Road partner countries and regions, providing Chinese solutions to safeguard human health.” He looks forward to this event enhancing the understanding and appreciation of excellent traditional Chinese culture worldwide and promoting cooperation between the university and various countries in the field of traditional medicine, working together to contribute to building a global community of health.
Since ancient times, China has had activities that follow the seasons, such as spring outings, summer retreats, autumn harvests, and winter storage. The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the four major traditional festivals of the Chinese nation and the first to be inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At this special time, Qian Hongjie, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, said that in addition to familiar celebrations like dragon boat racing and eating rice dumplings, the Chinese retain traditions closely related to TCM culture, such as hanging mugwort and applying realgar. She expressed that in long-term international cultural exchange and mutual learning, traditional TCM culture is open and inclusive, absorbing and integrating different practices, thus bursting with vitality. She hopes that through this event, there will be increased understanding and appreciation of TCM culture worldwide.
Hosseinali Darvishi Motevalli, Consul General of Iran in Guangzhou, mentioned in his speech as a representative of the consular corps that traditional medicine is significant for human health. He said, “China has one of the oldest medical systems in the world. Iran also has a rich history and valuable experience in traditional medicine.” He hopes to further strengthen exchanges and mutual learning in traditional medicine between the two countries, jointly improving the ability of traditional medicine to promote human health and treat diseases.
Civilizations become colorful through exchange and enriched through mutual learning. Guests listened to lectures on TCM health and visited the Guangdong Museum of Chinese Medicine, a second-level national museum, gaining a deeper understanding of TCM culture and perceiving the unique advantages and remarkable efficacy of TCM in disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation through an immersive experience.
It is understood that the “Southern Wind Elegance – Encounter with TCM” event is a series of TCM cultural exchange activities jointly created by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, combining traditional Chinese festivals and seasonal climatic changes. Its aim is to establish a new platform for external exchange, promote dialogue and integration between Chinese and foreign cultures, tell Chinese stories through the medium of TCM, promote TCM globally, and disseminate excellent traditional Chinese culture around the world.
Text: Journalist Tan Zheng
Photos: Journalist Zhou Wei
Video: Journalists Zhou Wei and Wang Jiongxun