Russians find successful treatment across border

After treatment at Hanyijiu Moxibustion Clinic in Hunchun, a city on the Chinese-Russian border in Jilin province, Irina Kostyrko found great relief from her back pain.

Kostyrko, a 69-year-old from Ussuriysk, Russia, visits Hunchun twice a year for moxibustion therapy.

"I have suffered from sciatic nerve pain and lumbar spinal stenosis for quite a long time," she said.

On the recommendation of a friend, she began to try moxibustion treatment in Hunchun in May 2021, and the effect has been "particularly good".

"In many regions of Russia, where the weather is cold, many people suffer from bone and joint diseases," she said. "Traditional Chinese medicine therapies, such as massage, acupuncture and moxibustion, which are gentle and effective, have become the most popular choice in recent years."

Seeking medical treatment in Hunchun has also become popular among residents in her city, she said. "This time, I invited my husband to come together to treat his knee osteoarthritis and insomnia."

During the day, Kostyrko and her husband visit tourist attractions and go shopping.

Han Shiming, manager of the clinic, has become quite busy.

"Every year, we receive over 1,000 Russian tourists, with some coming from as far as Moscow and St. Petersburg," he said. "Most of them came specifically seeking treatment for illnesses such as cervical spondylosis and frozen shoulder."

Affordable prices, high-quality services and attentive care continue to attract Russian tourists.

Apart from TCM, standard medical services are also favored.

At the Hunchun Eurasia Hospital, Russian patients in departments such as internal medicine and dentistry keep the place bustling, with dedicated Russian translators facilitating smooth communication with the doctors. "Sometimes, I treat over 30 Russian patients a day, many of whom are repeat patients," said Chen Xingsheng, deputy director of the hospital.

"Because of the limited visa time, they hope to see curative effects quickly, and China's medical expertise can meet their expectations.

"Others come with complex conditions like cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal issues, which need regular follow-ups," he added.

The local government is enhancing tourism infrastructure, strengthening market supervision and improving tourism services.

In 2023, the first five Russian consumer rights protection service stations and an international consumer rights protection service station were put into operation in Hunchun, addressing concerns for Russian tourists.

Customs data shows that last year, the number of inbound and outbound tourists through Hunchun Port reached 667,000.

In late March, more than 40 teenagers from Russia's Amur Oblast arrived in Hunchun to conduct a series of study activities. At the Hunchun TCM Hospital, they gained a close understanding of Chinese medicine culture and traditional Chinese medical techniques.

After visiting the herbal medicine room and experiencing acupuncture and moxibustion, they tasted the hospital's homemade herbal tea and learned the traditional Chinese health exercise baduanjin.

During the trip, the Russian teenagers showed a strong interest and enthusiasm for medical culture.

"The study activities allowed Russian youth to have close contact, exchanges and interact with Chinese medical culture and Chinese youth, further enhancing the popularity and influence of TCM and intangible cultural heritage representative projects," Han said.

Han Junhong and Ding Luyang contributed to this story.