Move over, beach cocktails – Sanya is serving up a new kind of rejuvenation! While this Hainan hotspot remains famous for its palm-fringed shores 🏖️, 2025 has seen a surge in travelers swapping swimsuits for acupuncture sessions as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes center stage.
Over 1.2 million international visitors flocked to Sanya this year alone, with wellness resorts reporting 40% of guests booking TCM programs. From herbal steam baths using locally grown mugwort to sunrise tai chi sessions on coral-sand beaches, the fusion of ancient practices and tropical luxury is going viral on TikTok (#TCMtropical).
‘It’s like my stress melts with the coconut oil during tuina massages,’ shared Lena Park, a Seoul-based influencer who extended her stay twice. Local TCM centers now offer English/Mandarin bilingual consultations, making pulse diagnosis as accessible as ordering bubble tea 🧋.
The Hainan Free Trade Port’s new medical tourism policies have fueled this growth, with 15 TCM-themed resorts opening since 2023. As Zhang Wei, a Sanya-based practitioner, notes: ‘We’re not just treating back pain – we’re helping digital nomads rediscover balance through yin-yang harmony.’
Next time you pack for paradise? Maybe leave room for those cupping marks 😉.
