TCM industry in China is entering a golden era of development

The internet-based traditional Chinese medicine center in Wuzhen town, Tongxiang county of Zhejiang province has been in operation for over a week.

The first of its kind in China, the TMC center opened on Nov 25 in Wuzhen, the permanent host of the World Internet Conference, just in time to welcome the opening of the 4th session of the annual event.

Co-founded by We Doctor Group, Tongxiang county government and several TCM hospitals and universities across the country, the center is garnering attention brought by the World Internet Conference.

Robert Kahn, known as "father of the Internet", visited the TCM center on Dec 4, a day after delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the 4th World Internet Conference. He spent an hour learning about the long-distance diagnose system in the TCM center, with great interest.

The TCM center has also been attracting visitors from the Light of the Internet Exposition. "Visitors are very interested in the TCM center. This is one of the most common topics they would ask me when visiting our exhibits. Many of them go to the TCM center directly after leaving our exhibition area," said Chai Dongkai, staff from the marketing department of We Doctor Group, who has been communicating with visitors at We Doctor Group's exhibition area at the exposition.

"We want to show the world the charm of TCM, and Wuzhen is the perfect location. Tourists from around the world are flocking to the town all year round, not to mention the tech leaders and celebrities gathering in the town for the World Internet Conference every year," said Lai Min, PR manager of We Doctor Group.

Visitors can learn basic knowledge about TCM in the TCM center, through watching the display of TCM's history, introduction of Chinese medical materials and stories about famous Chinese physicians like Hua Tuo and Li Shizhen.

They can even have a test on machines developed by We Doctor, to find out their body habitus and get a free herbal drink based on their health conditions.

The establishment of the TCM center does not only give people around the world new access to learning TCM, but also brings great convenience to local villagers in Wuzhen.

"Many Chinese prefer to treat chronic diseases using TCM. Wuzhen residents used to take two hours' bus ride if they want to see experienced doctors in the Jiaxing Hospital of TCM and the journey is torturing for patients, especially if they have to do that on a regular basis," said Lai.

Now, experienced doctors from the Jaixing Hospital of TCM are invited to work in the TCM center in Wuzhen every day.

"I just started working here this week and haven't treated many local patients yet, but I think this is great. My colleagues in the Jiaxing Hospial of TCM can still contact me and ask me to help diagnose patients through the long-distance diagnose system in the Wuzhen TCM center, meanwhile I can treat patients in Wuzhen face to face," said Fang Shuilin, director of Chinese medicine at the Jiaxing Hospial of TCM.

The TCM industry in China is entering a golden era of development. According to the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the TCM industry in China grew by 20 percent in the past year. To regulate and support the development of the industry, the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine went into effect on July 1.

Combined with the Internet technologies and great opportunities brought by the World Internet Conference, the TCM center in Wuzhen is striving to become a representative achievement of China's TCM development.

Extracted from chinadaily