Beijing develops health tourism to draw wellness seekers

Beijing has been making a great effort in past four years to develop health tourism highlighting wellness enhancement programs, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development.

"Beijing has abundant resources in developing tour packages focusing on traditional Chinese medicine and practices like tai chi. We also have TCM-centered museums, the Museum of Chinese Medicine, for example, which can inform travelers," Lin Song, deputy director with the commission's marketing department, said.

He said health tourism focusing on a slower pace of life rather than tight sightseeing schedules can benefit travelers both physically and psychologically through TCM diet and programs such as tai chi.

"It's a better way for travelers to learn Beijing's culture," Lin said.

Asfandyar, a 24-year-old student from Pakistan, was amazed by traditional Chinese medicine after experiencing a one-day wellness enhancement tour in Changping district on Monday.

"I had no idea about TCM before I experienced acupuncture and Chinese-style massage," he said. 

Lin said that the commission will collect information on tourist attractions, offering wellness enhancement services to help travel agencies attract more travelers, both domestic and overseas.

Dongcheng district in Beijing was listed in the first batch of State-level health tourism demonstration areas in early March, with another 14 in provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Shanghai, according to a guideline by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the former China Tourism Administration, which was merged into the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in March.