Beyond the Border: Kazakh students learn traditional Chinese medicine

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As cooperation strengthens between China and Central Asia, so do the cultural exchanges. Tao Yuan tells us how.

It's not just herbs and acupuncture points. Traditional Chinese medicine also incorporates thousands of years of Chinese beliefs and philosophies. Buvaz Abu Mansur is a Kazakh in his fifth year of TCM studies in China's northwestern city, Xi'an. He admits there are many challenges.

BUVAZ ABU MANSUR, STUDENT SHAANXI UNIVERSITY OF CHINESE MEDICINE "It's as much a culture as it is a medical science. And you can't understand it without understanding the culture. When I first started learning TCM, I had to read so many books."

His classmate, Yarov Abdulrakhim shares in his passion.

YAROV ABDULRAKHIM, STUDENT SHAANXI UNIVERSITY OF CHINESE MEDICINE "I first came to China only to learn the language. And then I saw an acupuncture program on the television and thought TCM is so brilliant and mysterious. That's why I started learning it."

Abdulrakhim is so passionate about it, he even asked his 19-year-old wife to join him. Surova Mariya moved to Xi'an a year ago. She's still working to master the Chinese language, but already, she's eager for the hands-on part of her studies.

SUROVA MARIYA, STUDENT SHAANXI UNIVERSITY OF CHINESE MEDICINE "When we graduate, we want to return home to open a TCM clinic."

Mariya studies in China are covered by a scholarship that's part of an exchange program.

TAO YUAN XI'AN "As cooperation deepens, more students from Central Asia are encouraged to come to China to study. These students say there are a few dozen students from Kazakhstan in their class who are here to learn traditional Chinese medicine."

The growing exchanges mean some students are already treating patients from their country.

And local patients also endorse their skills.

"I feel good. I don't think there's a difference between these Kazakh practitioners and the Chinese ones."

Unlike their patients, their counselor, An Junming, has higher expectations for these foreign students.

DR. AN JUNMING, CHIEF PHYSICIAN XI'AN HOSPITAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE "TCM is thousands of years of wisdom and philosophy. They need time and experience to become really good at it."

And for him, it goes beyond than just teaching them the skills.

DR. AN JUNMING, CHIEF PHYSICIAN XI'AN HOSPITAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE "I've seen more and more students from Central Asia coming to our school to study. I think the exchange of ordinary students can supplement what visits by government officials can't achieve, because it's more down to earth, it can really benefit ordinary people."

And the students are ready to bridge the two cultures.

BUVAZ ABU MANSUR, STUDENT SHAANXI UNIVERSITY OF CHINESE MEDICINE "I'll explain to the patients back home what the channel network is, what the Five Elements are, what the Yin and the Yang are. TCM is a complicated system, And Chinese culture is certainly a big part of it."

The ancient medical practice continues to find new life beyond China's borders. TY, CGTN, Xi'an.