On May 9, 2024, two instructors from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Peiwei Xu and Qingsheng Su, led a group of 26 second-year Traditional Chinese Medicine students to Anhui for a 10-day short-term training program focusing on the culture of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui.
The training program officially commenced with an opening ceremony held at 9:00 AM on May 10th in Room 376 of the Weixin Building. During the ceremony, Zhou Yadong, the Dean of the School of Humanities and International Educational Exchange, delivered a welcome speech. He also introduced the resources of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui and provided an overview of the university. Instructor Peiwei Xu expressed his expectations for the training program, hoping that the students would gain knowledge and experience, expand their horizons, and enhance their capabilities in such an educational setting.
From May 11th to 13th, the visiting group, accompanied by faculty from the Office of Foreign Affairs and Bozhou Vocational and Technical College, explored several significant sites in Anhui. These included the Bozhou Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Market, Anhui Jiren Pharmaceutical Group, the National Modern Agriculture Demonstration Garden, and the Hua Tuo Chinese Medicine Museum.
At the Bozhou TCM Market, students witnessed the bustling trade of medicinal herbs and learned about the identification, storage, and transaction processes of Chinese medicinal materials. At Anhui Jiren Pharmaceutical Group, they observed the advanced technology and equipment used in modern TCM pharmaceutical production, gaining insights into the standardization and modernization of TCM manufacturing.
In the National Modern Agriculture Demonstration Garden, the students observed the modern management practices of medicinal herb cultivation, experiencing the integration of TCM herb cultivation with modern agricultural techniques. Finally, at the Hua Tuo Chinese Medicine Museum, through exhibits and explanations, they gained a deeper understanding of the rich and profound culture of traditional Chinese medicine.
Through this visit and study tour, the students gained substantial knowledge, which not only increased their understanding but also sparked their love and interest in the culture of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In the following days, under the leadership of Professor Xie, the visiting group will embark on an in-depth field learning journey. They will travel to various mountain regions of Huangshan to explore and collect various wild medicinal plants.
The students will acquire extensive knowledge about herbal medicine, including the classification of herbs, their medicinal values, applications, and dosages. This experience will help them better appreciate the significant role of herbal medicine in both traditional and modern medicine.
