The number of overseas tourists visiting Sanya to experience traditional Chinese medicine health care continues to increase

China News Service, Sanya, Hainan, October 5th. Title: Overseas tourists going to Sanya to experience traditional Chinese medicine health care continues to grow.

Author Zhang Yuehe

"I used to have doubts, but now I completely trust Chinese medicine. Every time I do a physical therapy program, I feel completely relaxed." Anatoliya, a tourist from Kazakhstan who came to Sanya, just finished a Chinese medicine physical therapy program and felt that her whole body was light and comfortable. "I even fell asleep for a while during the acupuncture treatment."

Gua Sha, cupping, acupoint massage, acupuncture, massage... During the 2026 National Day holiday, these traditional Chinese medicine wellness projects in Sanya were favored by overseas tourists, and many traditional Chinese medicine clinics continued to place orders.

On October 3, overseas tourists received traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment in Sanya. Photo by Zhang Yuehe

"During the National Day holiday, our clinic is expected to receive 200 to 300 foreign guests and is already operating at full capacity." Ping Ping, co-founder of Sanya Jiyang Taiyitang Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, told China News Service reporters during a busy break. This year, more and more overseas tourists have come to Sanya with a more specific purpose, just to regulate their bodies through traditional Chinese medicine.

Most of Pingping's clinics are "repeat customers" who have been there many times. "I originally suffered from severe spinal problems, and my symptoms have been greatly improved after TCM treatment." Liliya, a Russian tourist met by the reporter, has been receiving TCM treatment in Sanya for three consecutive years. This year, she brought her mother and younger sister here for recuperation.

In Lilia's opinion, the uniqueness of traditional Chinese medicine is that it can relax the body and mind that are tense due to the pressure of life and work. "Although I don't understand the principle, I can feel that every time I finish traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy, my whole state becomes completely new."

The number of overseas tourists who come to Sanya to experience traditional Chinese medicine health care is increasing year by year. Yuan Yong, secretary of the Party Committee of Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that in 2023, the hospital received only more than 1,000 overseas tourists, and in 2025 it exceeded 10,000. In the first half of 2026, it has received more than 8,000 tourists, and it is expected to receive 12,000 to 15,000 tourists throughout the year.

"In the past, overseas tourists mainly came from Russian-speaking countries such as Russia and Kazakhstan, but now there are more countries such as Tanzania, Germany, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia." Yuan Yong said that the structure of overseas tourists who experience traditional Chinese medicine health care has also changed significantly. There are both first-time experiencers, "repeat customers", and research and exchange teams who come to learn and understand Chinese traditional Chinese medicine culture.

"The rise of Sanya's traditional Chinese medicine health care inbound tourism is the result of the combination of time, location, and people." Yuan Yong believes that Sanya is located at 18° north latitude, and the high concentration of negative oxygen ions and the beautiful scenery of coconut breeze and sea breeze make you relax physically and mentally; Hainan Free Trade Port is free of charge The visa policy has been continuously expanded, providing great convenience for foreign tourists to enter; the hospital has also continuously strengthened talent training, using excellent traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment technology to support patients, and has translators who are familiar with multiple languages to ensure smooth communication between doctors and patients.

Sanya is becoming an important destination for overseas tourists to experience traditional Chinese medicine health care. Lilia said that the combination of direct flights and visa-free policy makes traveling to Sanya more convenient; Sanya's beautiful urban environment, warm and pleasant climate, and vast and beautiful sea make people happy physically and mentally. "It is a kind of enjoyment to heal while vacationing here."