TCM Wellness Tours · Beijing 北京
Beijing
TCM & the Imperial City
A week of TCM at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, a first-batch national TCM clinical research base whose international department runs acupuncture and tuina clinics, with the Summer Palace, the hutongs and the Temple of Heaven in the afternoons.
Trip length
7 days / 6 nights
TCM program
TCM wellness
Best time to go
April–May and September–October
Best for
First-time TCM; stress, tension and general wellbeing
Overview
Acupuncture at a leading TCM teaching hospital, mornings only.
Dongzhimen Hospital, founded in 1958, is the First Clinical Medical School of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. It was among the first national TCM clinical research bases and is a WHO training base for TCM techniques. Its international department runs Sunday-morning clinics covering acupuncture, tuina and preventive care.
Sessions are in the mornings, so afternoons are free for Beijing's gardens and temples.
This route suits
- Travellers who want to try TCM properly, at a hospital
- People with neck and shoulder tension or stress
- First-time visitors to Beijing
- Couples, with one or both having sessions
TCM program · TCM wellness
What the TCM care covers
TCM consultation
A first consultation with a TCM physician at a public TCM hospital.
- History, pulse and tongue examination, with English interpreting
- Review of your current medicines and any conditions
- A written assessment in plain English
- A plan for the sessions during your stay
Acupuncture & tuina
A course of sessions spread across the trip, not crammed into one day.
- Four to six acupuncture sessions, with single-use needles
- Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) or cupping where suitable
- Moxibustion if the physician recommends it
- A note of what was given, for your doctor at home
Herbal advice (optional)
Only if you want it, and only after a medicines check.
- Herbal prescription only after your current medicines are reviewed
- No herbs if you take blood thinners, unless your own doctor agrees
- Written list of every ingredient, in English and Chinese
- Advice on what you may legally take home to your country
Records & handover
So your doctor at home knows exactly what you had.
- Written summary in English of the assessment and treatment
- Ingredient list for any herbs prescribed
- Self-care plan: exercises, sleep and diet advice
- Follow-up video call with your coordinator
The course of sessions is planned by the TCM physician after your consultation. Background and evidence: TCM guide · acupuncture · herbal medicine
Not sure TCM is right for you?
Tell us what you'd like help with and what medicines you take. We'll tell you what a Beijing trip could realistically offer — free, with no obligation.
Treatment timeline
How the sessions fit the trip
| Visit | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| This trip | This itinerary | Consultation on day 2, then sessions every day or two, so you can see how you respond. |
| Afterwards | At home | A self-care plan, and acupuncture with a licensed practitioner at home if it helped. |
Built around you
How the trip is paced
- Consultation on day 2, after a night's rest
- Sessions on alternate mornings, so you can see how you respond
- Afternoons for gardens and walks; nothing strenuous straight after a session
- A review on the last session day
Consultation day
What happens at the clinic
| 09:00 | Meet your coordinator at the hotel and travel to the hospital. Bring your passport and a list of your medicines. |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration, then a consultation with the TCM physician: history, pulse and tongue examination. |
| 10:15 | The physician explains the assessment in plain terms, with interpreting, and suggests a course of sessions. |
| 10:45 | First acupuncture or tuina session, if you're ready. |
| Afternoon | Free. Sessions are kept to mornings so the afternoons are for sightseeing. |
Itinerary · 7 days / 6 nights
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrive
- Pick-up and hotel check-in
- Short evening walk
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 2
Consultation
- Morning: TCM consultation and first session
- Afternoon: hutongs by rickshaw
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 3
Temple of Heaven
- Early tai chi in the Temple of Heaven park
- Afternoon free
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 4
Session & Summer Palace
- Morning session
- Afternoon at the Summer Palace
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 5
Dashilan
- Free morning
- Afternoon: Dashilan and Tongrentang
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 6
Final session
- Morning session and review with the physician
- Self-care plan handed over
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 7
Depart
- Records handed over; transfer to the airport
Make this itinerary yours
Change the dates, add rest days, upgrade hotels or combine it with another route. Your coordinator sends a revised plan and itemised quote.
Travel
What you’ll see
Summer Palace
The Qing imperial garden around Kunming Lake, with the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, the Long Corridor and Longevity Hill.
Tip: Take a boat across the lake in the late afternoon.
Temple of Heaven park
The Ming altar complex in a park where locals practise tai chi, qigong and fan dancing every morning.
Tip: Go early to join a tai chi group.
Hutongs around Houhai
Old lanes of courtyard houses around the Shichahai lakes.
Tip: A rickshaw tour is relaxing after a session.
Tongrentang on Dashilan
The flagship store of the famous TCM pharmacy brand, on a historic shopping street south of Tiananmen.
Tip: Look, but don't buy herbs without your physician's advice.
Hospitals
Where the TCM care happens
Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine 北京中医药大学东直门医院
Public TCM teaching hospital (3A) · Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Founded in 1958 and the university's First Clinical Medical School. Among the first national TCM clinical research bases and a WHO training base for TCM techniques. Its international department holds Sunday-morning clinics including acupuncture, tuina and preventive care.
We use it for
- TCM consultation
- Acupuncture and tuina
- Preventive (治未病) care
The hospital and physician are confirmed after we know what you'd like help with, your dates and availability. An English-speaking coordinator accompanies you to every appointment.
Have chronic pain?
Tell us where it hurts, for how long and what you've tried. We'll suggest whether a TCM pain program makes sense, and whether anything should be checked first.
Aftercare
After your sessions
After acupuncture
Mild soreness or small bruises are common and fade within a day or two. Drink water, and avoid a heavy meal or alcohol right after a session.
After cupping
Round marks are normal and fade over a few days to two weeks. Keep the area warm and covered on the day.
Medicines
Keep taking your usual medicines unless your own doctor advises otherwise. Tell the TCM physician about everything you take, including supplements.
Pace
Plan easy sightseeing on session days. Many people feel relaxed or sleepy afterwards.
General guidance only. Follow the advice of the physician who treats you.
Practical tips
Before you go
- International department clinics may need booking in advance; your coordinator arranges this.
- Beijing air can be dry. Drink plenty of water, especially around sessions.
- Bring a list of all your medicines and supplements, with doses, plus any recent test results or scans.
- If you take blood thinners, are pregnant or have a bleeding disorder, tell us before booking: some treatments will be adjusted or left out.
- Wear loose clothing on session days, so the practitioner can reach your arms, legs and back easily.
- Have a light meal before each session; don't go on an empty stomach.
FAQ
Beijing TCM wellness tour — answered.
- Will the physician speak English?
- Your coordinator interprets at every appointment. Ask us if you'd like a physician who speaks English directly. We'll check availability, but can't guarantee it.
- Can I just have acupuncture without herbs?
- Yes. Herbs are optional on every route.
- 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.
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Get your itemised quote.
Share your dates, who’s travelling and what you’d like help with. We’ll confirm the hospital, program and hotels, and keep the pace gentle.