Starting this September, fifth-year-students at selected schools in Zhejiang Province can choose Traditional Chinese medicine as an elective course, learning basic knowledge of Chinese herbal medicine and traditional medical practices.
On April 8, China's first primary school textbooks written on Chinese medicine and health, were released in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
The twin set of textbooks are comprised of 36 short texts, covering topics on species of herbal medicines, healthy living habits, and medical practices such as acupuncture, massage and the exercise therapy, Qigong.
This is the first time Chinese medicine was incorporated into primary school curriculums. The textbooks' publisher, Zhejiang Science and Technology Publishing House, also announced their plan to continue compiling textbooks on Chinese medicine for secondary schools.
The compilation plan was brought about in October 2016, as part of the greater movement to promote and educate about traditional Chinese medicine culture in Zhejiang Province.
Traditional Chinese medicine has a history spanning 2,500 years and has gained popularity overseas since the 1st century.
