Healthy returns

A customer usually receives a whole body checkup upon their arrival at the center, which will then come up with a pertinent health tour package plan.

TCM diets, tai chi and hot spring experiences, as well as visits to neighboring scenic spots, are arranged for clients.

"For example, if we find problems with their spine, we would recommend

our bone-setting and massage products," Tang says.

At the moment, a five-day TCM treatment at the center is priced at 1,180 yuan ($172), while some immersion therapy packages can cost up to over 15,000 yuan per person.

Another TCM destination is the Yiling Health Center in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, which is growing increasingly popular with travelers from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Switzerland.

"We usually take in three to four groups of foreign visitors each month," says Zhang Qiaopan, an employee at the center.

The facility is able to receive more than 1,000 foreign guests a year. "We teach them basic TCM philosophy, therapeutic cuisine, acupuncture and massage, so they can continue practicing TCM after they leave," Zhang adds.

Packages lasting from several days for up to four weeks are available for guests to choose from, and English, Russian and Arabic services are provided to meet different customer's needs.

To date, thirteen health tourism demonstration facilities are currently operating nationwide, including those in Beidaihe in Hebei province, Jiuhuashan in Anhui province, Sanya in Hainan province and Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

By 2020, China's tourism industry is forecast to be worth 7 trillion yuan a year, and health services worth 8 trillion yuan, according to tourism authorities.

Lars Roman Engel from Copenhagen in Denmark, has established contact with several tea-producing regions at the expo.

"I tried some of the tea at a few booths, and they were quite nice," he says.

"I heard that some of them can help your digestive system."

Engel and his team from a travel agency in Copenhagen joined the expo to "find inspiration and get to know what's happening in China's health tourism industry".

He believes that the health products displayed at the expo could be a good fit for travelers from his country.

"In Europe, we are very busy and we need various treatments that can help us calm down and feel like ourselves again," he says.

"So, I think these kinds of tea could just hit the spot."