On October 22, 2024, a large-scale event celebrating traditional medicine and health culture took place in Dongxing City, Guangxi, China. This event included various activities such as a traditional medicine-themed art performance, a cultural marketplace, and the China-Vietnam International Herbal Cuisine Friendship Competition.
The event was co-organized by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Commission, the Guangxi TCM Administration, and the Health Department of Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, under the theme “Treasures of Traditional Medicine, Building a Healthy Silk Road Together.” Notably, this date coincided with World Traditional Medicine Day.
The day featured a vibrant array of traditional medicine culture activities held at the Friendship Park between China and Vietnam in Dongxing City. Attendees enjoyed captivating performances that highlighted the unique charm of traditional medicine through various artistic expressions, including traditional dance, tai chi sword, and wellness exercises.
The traditional medicine cultural marketplace buzzed with activity, offering exhibitions, health consultations, and interactive experiences. Infused with local ethnic elements, the event aimed to create a “Traditional Medicine Culture Park,” allowing visitors to immerse themselves in an engaging journey filled with themed stations showcasing traditional medicine culture.
Long lines formed in the health consultation area, where experts from China and Vietnam employed traditional diagnostic methods like observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking to address community questions and offer personalized treatment advice. Participants also had the chance to experience traditional medical techniques firsthand, such as the bamboo tube therapy and point moxibustion often practiced by Zhuang doctors.
Adding an element of fun and challenge, the event featured interactive games based on traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic techniques, promoting learning through play with four specially designed medical-themed activities.
Additionally, the China (Fangchenggang) – Vietnam (Quang Ninh) International Herbal Cuisine Friendship Competition was held concurrently, fostering cultural exchange in herbal cuisine. The showcase highlighted unique herbal dishes from Vietnam as well as traditional Zhuang herbal cuisine from Guangxi, including health teas.
Du Zhenzong, Director of the Guangxi Health Commission, emphasized the region’s rich resources in traditional Chinese medicine, noting its strong foundational development, prominent advantages, and immense potential. He expressed the commitment to enhancing the cooperative mechanism between Guangxi and Quang Ninh, promoting shared research outcomes and comprehensive collaborations across various sectors, including production, education, research, and sales.
Li Jiawen, Director of the Guangxi TCM Administration, remarked that Guangxi’s geographical and cultural connections with Quang Ninh have a profound history of traditional medicine exchange. He hopes this event will deepen collaborative understanding and leverage individual strengths to benefit both regions’ populations.
Nguyen Trung Mien, Director of the Quang Ninh Health Department, stated that the event is a valuable opportunity for experts from both nations to exchange ideas, explore new therapies, and create new collaboration opportunities. He affirmed the commitment to working alongside Guangxi to enhance health services for the people in border areas.
As an important international ambassador and health facilitator, traditional Chinese medicine is rapidly making strides on the global stage. Guangxi, known as China’s “natural pharmacy” and “home of medicinal materials,” serves as a vital hub for open cooperation with ASEAN countries. The region is actively building platforms for collaboration in traditional medicine, developing national-level herb markets, and establishing various import/export ports in cities like Nanning, Fangchenggang, Dongxing, and more, thereby fostering regional brands such as “Gui Ten Flavors,” “Gui Medicinal Cuisine,” and “Gui Preparations.”
