Step into the Daily Life of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Shop: Wan Zhuan TCM Lifestyle Festival Returns to Puli on August 29

The 2nd Wan Zhuan TCM Lifestyle Festival will take place on Saturday, August 29, at the Puli Township Comprehensive Sports Field, continuing the mission of the inaugural event to revitalize traditional herbal culture. The festival aims to attract more people into TCM shops to experience and understand the diverse charm of Chinese herbal medicine. The Nantou County Chinese Medicine Business Association held a press conference at the Puli Library on the 5th, showcasing various herbal ingredients alongside creative displays such as herbal accessories, tiger-head buns, TCM aroma stones, and medicinal boats. The Han Mao Studio also offered lacquer-painted fan crafting for officials and guests, with public participation available on the event day.

Attendees included Nantou County Health Bureau Director Chen Nansong, county councilors Chen Yijun, Huang Shifang, Wu Guochang, Su Yucheng, Lin Fangyu, Taiwan Central Tourism Circle Alliance Association Chairman Li Jitian, National Federation of Chinese Medicine Business Associations Chairman Hsieh Ching-tang, Nantou County Beauty Industry Workers’ Union Chairman Li Tsai-ju, and representatives from Chinese medicine associations across various counties and cities. The press conference opened with a vibrant dance performance by the Man Hui Dance Troupe, themed around 'herbal apprentices'.

Chen Yi-sheng, Chairman of the Nantou County Chinese Medicine Business Association, emphasized that TCM is deeply intertwined with daily life—food, clothing, housing, and transportation—but noted that modern shifts in medical perspectives have led to declining awareness, especially among youth. Facing this challenge, he expressed hope that a series of promotional events could revitalize the TCM industry, integrating herbal knowledge into everyday life and transforming it from a 'thing of the past' into a 'present practice'. This effort, he said, is not only about cultural preservation but also about advancing the health industry, aiming to reshape public perceptions and reconnect diverse age groups with TCM culture.

Director Chen of the Health Bureau highlighted that TCM culture spans over a millennium and remains integral to daily life. The concept of 'food and medicine sharing the same origin' has long been established, with many common herbal ingredients also serving as staples in daily cooking and health-focused diets. Whether for wellness, dietary therapy, or disease treatment, TCM remains closely linked to people's lives. To promote safe and informed usage, the county government is collaborating with the TCM sector to strengthen public education on 'food-medicine synergy', clarifying the distinctions between herbal ingredients and food, and explaining how certain herbs may fall under pharmaceutical regulations depending on dosage and application. This year’s festival features diverse interactive experiences, allowing visitors to engage with herbs through sight, smell, touch, and hands-on creation, bridging the gap between the public and traditional TCM culture.

The festival will feature over 30 booths, including herbal displays and a TCM market. Participants can register online for the 'Little Herbal Apprentice: Herbal Scent Sachet Experience' and 'Herbal Perfume Plaque Experience'. On-site registration on August 29 will be available for the 'New Chinese Tea Experience: Little Herbalist', 'Lacquer Fan Painting', 'Herbal Aroma Stone DIY', 'Herbal Adornments: Medicine Jewelry DIY', and interactive challenge games. Completing these activities will reward participants with herbal doll keychains and herbal tea samples, aiming to let attendees personally experience the cultural richness of TCM and reshape outdated perceptions.

Little Herbal Apprentice - Herbal Scent Sachet Experience registration: https://forms.gle/7ZXvZVp33ik5vBaB8 Herbal Perfume Plaque Experience registration: https://forms.gle/nMRU2g5ukz6xevHY9