Preface

On August 22, 2026, the 1st Guangzhou Acupuncture-Herb Integration Conference together with the exchange event on the construction of the "1+N" system of Guangzhou Acupuncture Hospital was successfully held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. Coordinated by the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, the event was hosted by the Guangzhou Municipal Hospital Association and the Guangzhou Acupuncture Medical Quality Control Center, and undertaken by the Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. It gathered distinguished TCM experts and scholars from across Guangdong Province and beyond, as well as core practitioners from all institutions under the Acupuncture "1+N" Alliance, to jointly explore pathways for the innovative development of integrated acupuncture and herbal medicine therapy.

Since being officially designated as Guangzhou Acupuncture Hospital, the Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University has focused on building a comprehensive specialized cluster of acupuncture disciplines. Tracing its academic origins, Professor Wu Tianmin, the first department director, studied under Cheng Dan’an, one of China’s earliest academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, whose academic thought prioritized the combined use of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Rooted in the in-depth inheritance of this academic lineage, the hospital has made consistent explorations and improvements in the development of the acupuncture hospital, successfully organizing this inaugural Guangzhou Acupuncture-Herb Integration Conference.

The event consisted of three core sessions: Achievement Exhibition, Thematic Keynotes, and Clinical Case & Technical Exchange. Featuring result showcases, expert guidance and a strong focus on clinical implementation, the agenda was substantial and practice-oriented.

At the opening ceremony, Yu Lin, Party Secretary of the Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, and Shu Jianchang, President of the Guangzhou Municipal Hospital Association, delivered opening remarks successively. Tian Linze, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Healthcare Bureau under the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, attended and delivered a speech, offering clear guidance on the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine and charting the course for high-quality development of the TCM sector.

Achievement Exhibition: Empowered by Digital Intelligence — Phased Outcomes of the "1+N" System Unveiled

The opening segment featured a launch ceremony for digital and intelligent achievements of TCM inheritance under the "1+N" framework. A feature video presented the digital TCM construction outcomes jointly developed by the Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University and China Unicom. The two parties signed a further strategic cooperation agreement on site to deepen collaboration in digital transformation of TCM and jointly build a high-level smart TCM service system.

Platform Launch & Plaque Awarding Ceremony: Evidence-based Inheritance, Multi-disciplinary Collaboration Safeguards Public Health

The launch ceremony of the ACTION Intelligent Platform for Acupuncture Clinical Research Methodology was held. Professor Liu Cunzhi, Vice President of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Chairman of the International Advisory Committee, delivered an online address. Associate Researcher Duan Yuting, coordinator of the core implementation team and person-in-charge of platform development, systematically introduced the platform’s core architecture, six functional modules and user guidelines (Official website of ACTION: https://www.action-acu.cn).

Plaques were then awarded for the Tinnitus Diagnosis and Treatment Center. Professor Yang Jun, National Renowned TCM Physician, provided meticulous guidance on the center’s development. The center will give full play to the strengths of the acupuncture specialty, adopt the MDT multi-disciplinary team model, and deliver one-stop comprehensive diagnosis and treatment services for tinnitus patients.

Meanwhile, a plaque-awarding ceremony was held for the Lingnan Jin’s Three-Needle Therapy School Inheritance Studio. Founded by the late distinguished veteran TCM physician Professor Jin Rui, Jin’s Three-Needle Therapy is hailed as a landmark school of Lingnan acupuncture. Professor Zhuang Lixing, Director of the Lingnan Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Research Institute of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, presented the plaque to the hospital, which was received by Chen Quanfu, Vice President of the hospital.

In addition, the conference held the inauguration and plaque-awarding ceremony for the Lingnan Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Alliance for Diabetic Foot. The establishment of the Alliance marks a major initiative in developing Guangzhou’s Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Major, Difficult and Rare Diseases of Diabetic Foot. It will pool regional specialized strengths to advance the construction of a regional Lingnan integrated prevention and treatment system for diabetic foot combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Thematic Keynotes: Leading Experts Share Insights to Broaden Academic Horizons of Acupuncture-Herb Integration

Renowned authoritative experts were invited to deliver lectures covering multi-dimensional discussions on theoretical frameworks, clinical practice, classical inheritance and innovative development.

• Professor Yang Jun, National Renowned TCM Physician: Clinical Practice and Research on Acupuncture Treatment of Neurological Tinnitus

• Professor Hao Chongyao, Shanxi Acupuncture Hospital: Clinical Research on Zhibian Penetrating Daoshui Acupuncture Technique

• Professor Meng Xianjun, School of Medicine, Xiamen University: Clinical Application of Combined Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in Treating Depression

• Professor Tian Jianhui, Shanghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Regulating Spirit to Treat Cancer for Improved Tumor Therapeutic Efficacy

With far-sighted academic perspectives, the experts clarified directions for refining clinical diagnosis and treatment, ranging from theoretical systems and clinical syndrome differentiation to inheritance of classical theories and innovative advancement.

Clinical Case Exchange: Practical Insights for Bilateral Dissemination of High-quality Clinical Experience

The third session, a special forum on integrated acupuncture and herbal techniques, was held in the afternoon. Centered on real clinical scenarios, specialists from TCM hospitals, integrated Chinese-Western medicine hospitals at all levels across Guangzhou and member institutions of the Acupuncture "1+N" Alliance took the stage one by one to share authentic clinical cases and practical technical operations.

This event serves as a key practice to fully implement the national 15th Five-Year Plan for the Revitalization and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine and steadily advance the construction of Guangzhou’s national demonstration project for TCM inheritance and innovation. Centered on acupuncture-herb integration, it builds a high-level academic exchange platform, showcases phased achievements of the "1+N" system of Guangzhou Acupuncture Hospital, opens up a channel for translating academic theories into frontline clinical practice, and promotes the integrated diagnosis and treatment model combining acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Moving forward, the Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University will continue to act as the leading institution of the Acupuncture "1+N" Alliance under the "1+N" system of Guangzhou Acupuncture Hospital. Relying on the alliance platform, it will further advance integrated acupuncture and herbal therapy, organize regular exchanges on clinical techniques, promote characteristic appropriate TCM technologies, and provide higher-quality, efficient TCM health services for the public.

Source: Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University