An overseas student finds out about cupping therapy. [Photo by Che Han/new.china.com.cn]

A group of overseas students had hands-on experience of therapeutic practices in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on April 27 in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province.

The 82 students from nine countries were shown techniques of acupuncture, massage, cupping therapy, scraping therapy, and identification of TCM materials in the cultural museum of Changchun Shengxiutang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Gaofeng, head of the hospital, introduced students to the history of TCM and its contributions to the world's medical field, including those of Bian Que, the legendary Chinese physician of ancient times, and Chinese Nobel Prize-winning pharmacologist Tu Youyou, who discovered the malaria-fighting drug artemisinin.

Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body—most often by inserting thin needles into the skin. "It is special in Chinese medicine but has been spread and recognized across the world along with Chinese cuisine," said an acupuncturist in the hospital.

Cupping therapy, an ancient form of alternative medicine in which suction cups are applied to the skin, seemed very mysterious for these students from abroad. A woman from Italy said she was much surprised that she felt easy and comfortable after cupping and found it not painful at all. She had previously thought cupping must be very painful as it leaves obvious red or purple marks on the skin.

"Chinese medicine therapy is quite different from that in the west. I was impressed by China's amazing traditional medicine through this cultural event," she added.

The event was among a series of activities provided for foreign people to have a better understanding of Jilin province and Chinese culture. It was organized by the Jilin Huaqiao University of Foreign Languages which provides overseas students with many courses about Chinese traditional culture, including folk music, martial arts, and tea ceremonies.