County in Hebei famed for TCM culture

Neiqiu, a county in Xingtai of North China's Hebei province, has been famed for its rapid development of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry in recent years.

It boasts a national TCM culture promotion and education base - named Bianque Temple.

Bianque from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States (770-221 BC) periods was the founder of traditional Chinese medicine and was hailed as an ancient Chinese miracle-working doctor.

On Saturday, which is China's Medical Workers' Day, the county held a TCM culture promotion event themed with "Carrying forward the Bianque culture, inheriting the essence of Chinese medicine, and serving people's health".

During the event, an activity was hosted to worship Bianque and representatives in TCM from around the province exchanged views on the development and inheritance of TCM culture.

In recent years, Neiqiu has vigorously developed the traditional Chinese medicine industry and has issued a number of policies to support its development.

As of present, the industry has formed a whole industrial chain including the production of medicine and the plantation of herbs.

The county boasts more than 400 units or institutions featured with TCM medical treatment, according to local government.

All health centers in the county's townships and urban residential communities have founded departments that focus on TCM, while about 85 percent of its village clinics can provide traditional Chinese medicine services, it said.

The county has invested about 800 million yuan ($110 million) in equipping its medical institutions with TCM-related facilities.

For example, the county's hospital of traditional Chinese medicine has set up a TCM rehabilitation center and 12 TCM clinical departments.

Besides, traditional Chinese medicine centers have been established at 9 township health centers, together with diagnosis and treatment equipment.