On March 17th, the opening ceremony of the "Chinese Bridge" Canadian Student Cultural Exchange Program was held at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, marking the beginning of a 14-day exploration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture. A group of 18 students and faculty members from the College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Canada will participate in immersive-themed activities across seven cities in Hainan and Guangdong provinces.

"It's astonishing to watch the fire-dragon moxibustion in person!" "I want to study TCM!" "TCM is amazing!" "I will call you!" After the ceremony, the exchange group members happily learned practical Cantonese word-by-word with journalists from Guangzhou.

"I practice Qigong every morning, and I love having congee with chicken and ginger for breakfast. I always tell my neighbors who still drink cold water when their stomach is upset that they should drink hot water," said Elena, a former Western medicine practitioner. More than 30 years ago, she fell in love with Qigong and TCM after being introduced to them. After pursuing systematic study at the College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Canada, she obtained her TCM license and now runs a TCM clinic in Boston, the US.

At the event, doctors and nurses from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine showcased various TCM therapies, including fire-dragon moxibustion, thunder-fire moxibustion, stick acupuncture, and Wentong Bojin cupping. The exchange group members, including Elena, were thrilled by the scene, recording videos and asking various questions.

"It's incredible to see Fire-dragon Moxibustion on site! I've tried similar ginger interposed moxibustion before," said Elena. "I hope to bring these fascinating TCM techniques back to my country and introduce them to my friends!"

"This journey is truly amazing, eye-opening, and even life-changing," said Alya, the generation born in the 00s. She expressed a deep interest in the philosophy and cultural foundation of TCM. "When we talk about TCM, most people in my hometown think it's acupuncture. But I believe TCM is far more than that. It encompasses food and Qi. It is a holistic art that can heal both the body and mind, covering not only treatment for severe illnesses but also prevention before sickness."