Zhong Danzhu, founder of the Donglutang Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Chengdu, Sichuan province, has been dedicated to promoting TCM abroad for the past two decades.

On the wall of his clinic hangs a silk banner presented by Petru Lucinschi, former president of Moldova, inscribed with the words "Eastern divine doctor". It was a gift from Lucinschi to celebrate the opening of Zhong's clinic in May 2023.

Born in 1973 into a family of TCM practitioners in Longchang county, Sichuan, Zhong began learning TCM techniques from his grandfather and father during childhood. At the age of 17, he opened his own clinic in his hometown.

In 1999, Zhong moved to Beijing to pursue advanced knowledge in TCM under the guidance of TCM masters. While there, he treated patients from diverse backgrounds, including foreigners.

To promote TCM internationally, Zhong led a group of doctors to Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2005 and established his first international TCM medical center. Over the years, his team has established 11 TCM medical centers in countries including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Moldova and Romania, providing medical services to over 300,000 patients annually.

"To meet patient demands from home and abroad, I have to work in the international medical centers in odd-numbered months and come back to the domestic clinic in even-numbered months," he said, adding that many patients also fly from abroad to his clinic in Chengdu to seek medical treatment.

Zhong believes that his team is well-received by international patients because they leverage the advantages of TCM in providing tailored treatments based on patients' lifestyle habits.

"In some regions where our medical center is located, TCM has become a fashionable way of maintaining health and wellness," he said. "In Russia's Ural region, some residents even purchase our medical services as a 'health gift' for their families."

Zhong said he sees great potential for the international development of TCM as it can effectively treat various health conditions caused by poor lifestyle habits, such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes and pancreatitis.

He suggests that TCM practitioners should promote it in a more fashionable and life-oriented manner, making it a globally popular healthy lifestyle.