Healing Across Cultures: AIMC Students Discover the Heart of Chinese Medicine in Beijing

AIMC students and faculty at the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center (CBIATC), August 2025.

A Journey with Purpose

In August 2025, a group of AIMC students set out on an extraordinary learning adventure to Beijing, China. The trip was part of the EL200 China Study Abroad Program, hosted by the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center (CBIATC) under the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS)—a World Health Organization Collaborating Center and one of the world’s most respected hubs for acupuncture education.

For many students, this was more than just an academic trip; it was a chance to walk in the footsteps of generations of healers and see how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) thrives in its home country.

“The fact that we saw more patients on day 1 than we could observe all semester in school was such an enriching experience.”

Learning from the Masters

🌸 Welcome Orientation – August 17

The week began at the SSAW Garden Hotel Beijing, where students gathered for orientation, received AIMC Global Learning materials, and met the faculty and translators who would guide them through the days ahead. The energy in the room was a mix of excitement and curiosity—a perfect start to what would become an unforgettable cultural and educational exchange.

🏥 Clinical & Academic Training at CBIATC – August 18–22

Each morning, students headed to the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Hospital of CACMS, rotating through five departments: Orthopedics, Encephalopathy, Rheumatology, Gynecology & Pediatrics, and Pain Medicine. They observed patient consultations, diagnosis discussions, and treatments in real time—gaining valuable insight into how Chinese practitioners blend deep traditional knowledge with modern clinical care.

Afternoons were devoted to lectures at the Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, covering topics such as:

• Weight management and metabolism (Dr. Nie Wen-bin)

• Acute & chronic lumbago (Dr. Wang Tong)

• Irregular menstruation & dysmenorrhea (Dr. Yang Li)

• Infertility & menopausal syndrome (Dr. Zhang Ning)

• Dermatological disorders & anti-aging (Dr. Li Meng-han)

The week closed with a joyful certificate ceremony, celebrating learning, teamwork, and the friendships that had formed along the way.

“The doctors and staff were very welcoming and generous with their knowledge.”

Exploring Beyond the Classroom

💉 FSN Institute Visit – August 20

Outside of the CBIATC schedule, students were invited by Dr. Fu to the FSN Institute at the First Affiliated Hospital of Tsinghua University. There, they were introduced to Fascia Subcutaneous Needling (FSN)—a modern innovation derived from acupuncture principles.

Watching the doctors perform FSN treatments and hearing about its growing international recognition opened new perspectives on how traditional techniques continue to evolve in modern medicine.

FSN therapy bridges the wisdom of the past with the precision of modern science.

🌾 Bozhou Herbal Field Trip – August 23–24

Later that week, the group boarded a high-speed train for a two-day trip to Bozhou, one of China’s most famous centers of herbal medicine.

• At a TCM planting base, they learned how herbs are cultivated and harvested for optimal potency.

• In a processing factory, they observed how raw plants are cleaned, sliced, and dried.

• At the Bozhou Herbal Market, they wandered through rows of fragrant roots, flowers, and minerals, seeing firsthand how China’s herbal trade still thrives.

• Finally, at the Hua Tuo Museum, they explored the story of one of China’s legendary physicians, whose innovative spirit still inspires practitioners today.

For many, this trip was a highlight—an experience that connected them more deeply to the land, the plants, and the people who keep this ancient knowledge alive.

“Seeing where the herbs come from gave me a whole new appreciation for our medicine.”

Cultural Exploration in Beijing – August 25–26

Before heading home, students spent two days exploring Beijing’s rich history and beauty. They climbed the Mutianyu Great Wall, strolled the serene gardens of the Summer Palace, stood beneath the vaulted ceilings of the Temple of Heaven, and enjoyed a calming tea-culture ceremony.

These moments of reflection tied together what they had learned in the clinic—the balance between nature, body, and spirit that defines TCM philosophy.

Balance, connection, and harmony — lessons found both in medicine and in travel.

Continuing the Journey

Back at AIMC, several students are planning a review lab to revisit and discuss the cases, techniques, and insights they brought home from Beijing. Their enthusiasm is a reminder that learning doesn’t end when a trip does—it continues through practice, reflection, and community.

AIMC’s Global Learning programs aim to keep opening these doors—to cultures, to collaboration, and to compassion.

If you’ve ever dreamed of studying where ancient traditions meet modern healing, stay tuned for the next AIMC Global Learning adventure.

Your own journey of discovery could be just around the corner. 🌏✨