Does acupuncture actually work?

For chronic pain, the largest analysis of individual patients from high-quality trials (the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration, about 20,000 people) found acupuncture did better than both sham acupuncture and no acupuncture for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis and headache. The extra benefit over sham was modest. We present it as a reasonable complement to standard care, not a replacement.

Are Chinese herbs safe?

Not automatically. Some herbs can cause liver injury, and some interact with medicines; goji, ginkgo and garlic, for example, can affect warfarin. That's why herbs are optional on these trips, prescribed only after your medicines are checked, and always with a full ingredient list for your own doctor.

Why a hospital and not a spa?

At a public TCM hospital, treatment is given by licensed TCM physicians who also know when a symptom needs a Western check first. Every route uses public TCM hospitals.

Can I take herbs home?

Rules differ by country, and some ingredients are banned or need a licence. Your coordinator gives you an ingredient list and advice, but check your own country's customs rules before you buy.

How much does a TCM wellness tour cost?

It depends on the route, hotels and how many sessions you want. Send us your dates and what you'd like help with, and we'll reply with an itemised quote.

Photo: liuzr99 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

TCM wellness tours · 2026

Chinese medicine,
where it comes from.

Five routes built around public TCM hospitals, not spas: a consultation with a licensed TCM physician, a course of acupuncture or tuina across the trip, and afternoons in gardens, temples and teahouses. We're honest about the evidence: TCM is a complement to your usual care, not a replacement for it.

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Routes

Five routes,
sessions in the morning.

The Seventeen-Arch Bridge at the Summer Palace in late-afternoon winter light over frozen Kunming Lake

Beijing 北京 · 7 days / 6 nights

Beijing · TCM & the Imperial City

Acupuncture at a leading TCM teaching hospital, mornings only.

TCM program: TCM wellness

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A still pond in the Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou, reflecting autumn trees, red maples, a pavilion and a distant pagoda

Shanghai & Suzhou 上海 · 苏州 · 8 days / 7 nights

Shanghai + Suzhou · Tuina, Acupuncture & Gardens

TCM in English at Shanghai's international clinics, then Suzhou's classical gardens.

TCM program: Pain program

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The skylit atrium of the historic Hu Qing Yu Tang pharmacy in Hangzhou, with carved dark-wood galleries, lanterns and medicine counters

Hangzhou 杭州 · 6 days / 5 nights

Hangzhou · TCM, Tea & West Lake

TCM sessions by the lake, in a city with centuries of medicine behind it.

TCM program: TCM wellness

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A small waterfall tumbles over mossy rocks beneath a wooden gallery and stone bridge in the forest of Mount Qingcheng

Chengdu & Mount Qingcheng 成都 · 青城山 · 7 days / 6 nights

Chengdu + Qingcheng · TCM & Taoist Mountain

TCM in Chengdu, then quiet days on a Taoist mountain.

TCM program: TCM wellness

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The five-storey red Zhenhai Tower in Yuexiu Park, Guangzhou, hung with red lanterns and framed by pine trees under a blue sky

Guangzhou 广州 · 6 days / 5 nights

Guangzhou · Preventive TCM & Cantonese Food

Preventive TCM at China's busiest TCM hospital, and the home of herbal soup.

TCM program: TCM wellness

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Not sure which route fits?

Tell us what you'd like help with, how long you have and what you enjoy. We'll recommend a route — free, within 48 hours.

Help me choose Get a free quote

Programs

Three ways to use TCM.

Most asked

TCM wellness

A consultation with a TCM physician at a public TCM hospital, then a course of acupuncture, tuina massage or cupping across the trip. A way to experience TCM properly, at a hospital rather than a spa.

Chronic pain

Pain program

For long-standing back, neck, knee or shoulder pain. Trials show acupuncture helps more than sham treatment, though the extra benefit is modest, so it works best alongside exercise and your usual care.

Optional

Herbal consultation

Added only on request and only after your medicines are checked. Some herbs can harm the liver or interact with drugs such as warfarin, so we never add herbs by default.

Every route can use any program. More on TCM, and the evidence behind it, is in our traditional Chinese medicine guide.

Compare

All routes at a glance

Route	Setting	TCM program	Best for	Length
Beijing · TCM & the Imperial City	Summer Palace · Temple of Heaven park · Hutongs around Houhai	TCM wellness	First-time TCM; stress, tension and general wellbeing	7 days / 6 nights
Shanghai + Suzhou · Tuina, Acupuncture & Gardens	Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou · Pingjiang Road, Suzhou · Longhua Temple, Shanghai	Pain program	Back, neck and joint pain; travellers with international insurance	8 days / 7 nights
Hangzhou · TCM, Tea & West Lake	Hu Qing Yu Tang · West Lake · Xixi National Wetland Park	TCM wellness	Stress, poor sleep and general wellbeing	6 days / 5 nights
Chengdu + Qingcheng · TCM & Taoist Mountain	Mount Qingcheng · People's Park teahouse · Giant panda base	TCM wellness	Wellbeing, stress; travellers interested in Taoism and nature	7 days / 6 nights
Guangzhou · Preventive TCM & Cantonese Food	Yuexiu Park & Zhenhai Tower · Herbal soup and tea · Chen Clan Ancestral Hall	TCM wellness	Preventive care and general wellbeing; travellers via Hong Kong	6 days / 5 nights

How it works

Gentle by design.

Before you fly

Tell us what you want

Wellbeing, pain, stress or curiosity. Send your medicines list so we can flag anything that rules out certain treatments.

Day 2

Consult, then treat

A TCM physician assesses you and plans a course of sessions. You can stop or change at any point.

After

Continue at home

A written summary, an ingredient list for any herbs, and exercises and self-care to keep the benefit going.

Take regular medicines?

Tell us before you travel, especially blood thinners. Some herbs interact with medicines, so we check first and leave them out where needed.

Check my medicines Herbal medicine guide

FAQ

TCM Wellness Tours — answered.

Does acupuncture actually work?: For chronic pain, the largest analysis of individual patients from high-quality trials (the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration, about 20,000 people) found acupuncture did better than both sham acupuncture and no acupuncture for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis and headache. The extra benefit over sham was modest. We present it as a reasonable complement to standard care, not a replacement.
Are Chinese herbs safe?: Not automatically. Some herbs can cause liver injury, and some interact with medicines; goji, ginkgo and garlic, for example, can affect warfarin. That's why herbs are optional on these trips, prescribed only after your medicines are checked, and always with a full ingredient list for your own doctor.
Why a hospital and not a spa?: At a public TCM hospital, treatment is given by licensed TCM physicians who also know when a symptom needs a Western check first. Every route uses public TCM hospitals.
Can I take herbs home?: Rules differ by country, and some ingredients are banned or need a licence. Your coordinator gives you an ingredient list and advice, but check your own country's customs rules before you buy.
How much does a TCM wellness tour cost?: It depends on the route, hotels and how many sessions you want. Send us your dates and what you'd like help with, and we'll reply with an itemised quote.

Pick a route,
we’ll handle the rest.

Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you’d like help with. We’ll match the hospital and program, then send an itemised quote.

Plan my trip Traditional Chinese medicine guide

Chinese medicine,
where it comes from.