Hunan University of Chinese Medicine Cultivates International Ambassadors for Global TCM Promotion

Passing by the statue of Hua Tuo and crossing Yan Di Square to enter the School of International Education at the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine feels like stepping onto a path that brings Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) culture to the world.

Hunan University of Chinese Medicine. Photo provided by the university

As one of the earliest TCM institutions in China to admit international students, the School of International Education at the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine has been developing international education programs since 1981. Today, leveraging its integration into the Belt and Road Initiative, it has trained over 2,000 international students hailing from 65 countries and regions.
"A large number of international graduates have become key figures in the fields of TCM healthcare, education, research, and cultural dissemination in their respective countries and regions," said Dai Aiguo, Party Secretary of the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine. According to Dai, one of the key objectives of international education is to cultivate young international ambassadors who will sow the seeds of TCM culture across the globe.
On campus, international students experience traditional Chinese festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, integrating the TCM philosophy of "medicine and food sharing the same origin" with fine traditional Chinese culture. Off campus, the university continuously organizes trips for international students to historical and cultural landmarks such as Orange Isle, the Mausoleum of the Yan Emperor, and the Hunan Museum. Additionally, it conducts rural outreach (San Xia Xiang) study activities in multiple villages, bridging Huxiang (Hunan) culture with the development of modern China.