History

Established in 1975, the Department of Acupuncture isamong the hospital's founding core clinical departments. Over nearly fivedecades, it has evolved into a nationally renowned specialty in TraditionalChinese Medicine (TCM), seamlessly integrating patient care, research, andeducation.

Accreditations &Honors

The department holds distinguished designations as a Key Specialty of theNational Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a National Key TCM Specialty.At the provincial and municipal levels, it is recognized as a High-Level KeyClinical Specialty of Guangdong Province, a Key Discipline of TraditionalChinese Medicine (both provincial and municipal), and a Key Clinical TCMSpecialty of Shenzhen City.

It also serves as a branch (cultivation unit) of the National Clinical ResearchCenter for Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, the Chairman Unit of theShenzhen Acupuncture Association, and the Shenzhen Key Laboratory ofModern Applied Research in Acupuncture and Moxibustion.Additional roles include hosting the Shenzhen Quality Control Center for TCM Acupunctureand Moxibustion, operating as a Training Base for TCM Clinical ResearchMethodology, and supporting the prestigious "FamousDoctors, Hospitals and Clinics Project" led by Professor Liu Baoyan of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.

Leadership

Professors Sun Waizhu, Tao Jiaping,and Yu Haibo successively served as administrative directors, while Professor Yang Zhuoxin provided visionary academic leadership—all making exceptional contributions tothe department's development. Since 2025, Professor Gou Yanhua hasserved as Department Director.

Clinical Expertise &Research Focus

The department pioneered the "Tiaoren TongduAcupuncture Method" (Regulating the Governor Vessel),integrating over 40 characteristic TCM therapies—including filiform needling,fire needling, moxibustion, thread embedding, and floating needling—toestablish a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment system spanning nine medicalfields: neuropsychiatry, orthopedics, gastroenterology, gynecology, pediatrics,and beyond.

The department has achieved outstanding clinicaloutcomes, particularly in stroke rehabilitation, sleep disorders, cerebral palsy,infertility, and pain management. Equipped with advanced facilities, itdelivers an integrated TCM-Western medicine model combining acupuncture withrehabilitation therapy, embodying the best of modern TCM practice.

Current Status

The department has undergone remarkable expansion,evolving from a single consultation room with three staff members to across-campus network featuring three outpatient clinics and three inpatient wards.By 2025, total bed capacity reached 123.

The team now comprises 120 specialty personnel,including two Guangdong Provincial Eminent TCM Practitioners, five ShenzhenMunicipal Eminent TCM Practitioners, six doctoral supervisors, and fourteenmaster's supervisors—forming a robust collaborative framework integratingmedical, nursing, and technical expertise. Clinical services extend throughoutthe Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In 2025 alone, the departmentrecorded 3,220inpatient discharges and 119,200 outpatient visits.

Academic Collaboration& Education

Supported by Shenzhen's Medical and Health "ThreeFamous Project" (Famous Doctors, Hospitals, and Clinics), the departmentmaintains a productive collaboration with Professor Liu Baoyan's team from theChina Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, achieving significant advances inclinical research methodology. It has established the National-Level Famous TCMPractitioner Yang Zhuoxin Inheritance Station and the Provincial Famous TCMPractitioner Yu Haibo Inheritance Station, dedicated toadvancing TCM knowledge transmission and cultivating the next generation ofdistinguished practitioners.

As a flagship program within Guangzhou University ofTraditional Chinese Medicine's School of Acupuncture and Tuina, the departmenthas developed a comprehensive training pipeline spanning undergraduate throughpostdoctoral education. It actively participates in standardized training forTCM physicians and specialist nurses. Between 2010 and 2025, the departmenttrained 86postgraduates and over 1,000 residents and advanced trainees,while hosting more than 20 major academic conferences.

Research Achievements

The department maintains a vigorous research portfolio,having secured over 80 national, provincial, and municipal grants—includingfunding from the National Key R&D Program and the National Natural ScienceFoundation of China. Faculty have published 300+ academic papers (40+indexed in SCI) and secured 50+ patents. The department has also led and contributedto the formulation of multiple national and international industry standards.

Vision forthe Future

Bridging millennia through silver needles, carrying thetorch of heritage through moxibustion flames.

Looking ahead, the Department of Acupuncture will harnessits designation as a National TCM Advantageous Specialty as a powerful enginefor growth. We remain committed to our core philosophy: honoringtradition without being shackled to the past, innovating without straying fromour roots. This guiding spirit will drive the deep integration andsynergistic advancement of clinical practice, education, research, and industry.

Grounded in the foundational wisdom of meridians andacupoints, we will refine our distinctive needling techniques and pioneerinnovations in moxibustion therapy. Our focus will center on achieving breakthroughsin refractory pain syndromes, neurological rehabilitation, and functionaldisorders—areas where acupuncture's unique therapeutic potential remains to befully unlocked.

Above all, we place patients at the heart of everythingwe do. We practice the true essence of acupuncture: where skilled hands meetcompassionate hearts and therapeutic presence. Every needle weinsert carries warmth and care; every treatment we deliver demonstratestangible efficacy.

Through this commitment, we will contribute our expertiseand passion to building the Greater Bay Area into a highland of TraditionalChinese Medicine—carrying forward the legacy of acupuncture with every needle,and illuminating the future of healing with every flame.

Department of Acupuncture& Moxibustion

Overview

Founded in 1975, the Department of Acupuncture &Moxibustion is one of the hospital's earliest established core clinicaldepartments. Over nearly five decades, it has evolved into a National Key TCM Specialty and NationalTCM Advantageous Specialty integrating clinical practice,scientific research, and education, serving the Guangdong-Hong Kong-MacaoGreater Bay Area.

Honors & Credentials

National KeySpecialty, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine

National TCMAdvantageous Specialty

GuangdongProvincial High-Level Key Clinical Specialty / Key TCM Discipline / Key TCMSpecialty

Shenzhen KeyDiscipline / Key TCM Clinical Specialty

Branch Center(Cultivation Unit), National Clinical Research Center for Acupuncture andMoxibustion Medicine

President Unit,Shenzhen Acupuncture Association

Shenzhen KeyLaboratory of Modern Applied Research in Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Shenzhen QualityControl Center for TCM Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Shenzhen TrainingBase for TCM Clinical Research Methodology

SupportingDepartment for Shenzhen "Famous Doctors, Hospitals & ClinicsProject" — Team of Academician Liu Baoyan, China Academy of ChineseMedical Sciences

Leadership

Specialized Treatments

The department pioneered the "Tiaoren TongduAcupuncture Method" (Regulating the Conception andGoverning Vessels), integrating 40+ TCM therapies including filiformneedle, fire needle, moxibustion, acupoint catgut embedding, and floatingacupuncture. We have established a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment systemcovering nine major fields:

Key Specialties

Neuropsychiatric

Stroke rehabilitation

Sleep disorders

Pediatric cerebralpalsy

Orthopedics

Various painsyndromes

Sports injuries

Gastroenterology

Functionaldigestive disorders

Gynecology

Infertility

Menstrual disorders

Pediatrics

Developmentaldelays

Enuresis

Others

Obesity management

Sub-healthconditioning

Equipped with advanced rehabilitation facilities, weprovide an integratedacupuncture-rehabilitation diagnosis and treatment modelcombining TCM and Western medicine.

Department Scale (2025)

Our Team

Our multidisciplinary "Medical-Nursing-Technical"collaborative system includes:

2 Guangdong Provincial Famous TCM Practitioners

5 Shenzhen Famous TCM Practitioners

6 Doctoral Supervisors

14 Master's Supervisors

Complete talentpipeline of postdocs, PhDs, master's degree holders, and senior-levelprofessionals

Research & Academics

Education & Heritage

As the Acupuncture & Tuina Teaching and ResearchSection of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, we haveestablished a complete training chain from undergraduate to postdoctorallevels, undertaking:

Standardizedtraining for TCM physicians

Specialist nursetraining

Inheritance of renowned TCM masters' academic thoughts:

National Famous TCMPractitioner Yang Zhuoxin Inheritance Work Station

Provincial FamousTCM Practitioner Yu Haibo Inheritance Work Station

Vision

"Silver needles connect ancient and modern; moxafire passes down the healing lineage"

Looking ahead, the Department of Acupuncture &Moxibustion will leverage the "National TCM Advantageous Specialty"initiative as our engine, adhering to the spirit of "Upholding traditionwithout rigid adherence to the past; Innovating without departing fromfundamental principles." We are committed to deepening theintegration of medicine, education, research, and industry. Grounded in thefundamentals of meridians and acupoints, we will continue refiningcharacteristic acupuncture techniques and innovative moxibustion therapies, strivingfor breakthroughs in complex pain syndromes, neurological rehabilitation, andfunctional disorders—contributing our wisdom and strength to the TCM highlanddevelopment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

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