TCM Wellness Tours · Chengdu & Mount Qingcheng 成都 · 青城山
Chengdu + Qingcheng
TCM & Taoist Mountain
Seven days combining TCM at the Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM with Chengdu's teahouses and the pandas, then two days on Mount Qingcheng, one of the birthplaces of Taoism, with forest paths and temple courtyards.
Trip length
7 days / 6 nights
TCM program
TCM wellness
Best time to go
March–June and September–November
Best for
Wellbeing, stress; travellers interested in Taoism and nature
Overview
TCM in Chengdu, then quiet days on a Taoist mountain.
The Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, also the Sichuan Provincial Hospital of TCM, is the teaching hospital of one of China's main TCM universities, and its researchers publish randomised trials of acupuncture.
Mount Qingcheng, about an hour and a half from Chengdu, is a UNESCO-listed Taoist mountain of forest paths, streams and temples, a fitting end to a TCM trip.
This route suits
- Travellers interested in the roots of Chinese medicine and Taoism
- People with stress who want time in nature
- Food lovers who want to see Chengdu
- Anyone wanting the pandas as well
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 Chengdu & Mount Qingcheng 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 and sessions in Chengdu on days 2–5
- Teahouse afternoons rather than long excursions
- Mount Qingcheng's front-mountain paths, with a cable car for the steep section
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
Overnight: Central Chengdu
- Day 2
Consultation
- Morning: TCM consultation and first session
- Afternoon: People's Park teahouse
Overnight: Central Chengdu
- Day 3
Pandas
- Early morning at the panda base
- Afternoon rest
Overnight: Central Chengdu
- Day 4
Session & Qingyang Palace
- Morning session
- Afternoon: Qingyang Palace
Overnight: Central Chengdu
- Day 5
Final session & transfer
- Morning session and review
- Afternoon transfer to Mount Qingcheng
Overnight: Qingcheng foothills
- Day 6
Mount Qingcheng
- Front-mountain temples and forest paths, with the cable car
Overnight: Qingcheng foothills
- Day 7
Depart
- Transfer to Chengdu 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
Mount Qingcheng
A UNESCO-listed Taoist mountain of forested paths, streams and temples, about 1.5 hours from Chengdu.
Tip: Take the cable car up the front mountain to save your legs.
People's Park teahouse
Chengdu's best-known open-air teahouse, full of locals playing mahjong.
Tip: A relaxed afternoon after a morning session.
Giant panda base
Pandas in landscaped enclosures in the north of the city.
Tip: Go at opening time, when the pandas are most active.
Qingyang Palace
Chengdu's largest Taoist temple, with courtyards, incense and a teahouse.
Tip: Pairs well with Mount Qingcheng.
Hospitals
Where the TCM care happens
Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM 成都中医药大学附属医院
Public TCM hospital · Chengdu University of TCM (Sichuan Provincial Hospital of TCM)
Its researchers have published a randomised trial comparing acupuncture courses for chronic insomnia.
We use it for
- TCM consultation
- Acupuncture
- Tuina
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
- Mount Qingcheng is humid and can be slippery after rain. Wear shoes with good grip.
- Sichuan food is spicy; ask for 不辣 (bù là) if you prefer it mild.
- 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
Chengdu & Mount Qingcheng TCM wellness tour — answered.
- Is Mount Qingcheng hard to walk?
- The front mountain has stone steps and some steep sections, but a cable car covers the steepest part. Tell us about knee or heart problems and we'll plan a gentler route.
- Can I learn tai chi or qigong on this trip?
- Often, yes: temples and parks have morning groups, and your coordinator can arrange a private lesson.
- 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.