The Tasly Group

We just returned from a two day field trip to The Tasly Group, a modern TCM pharmaceutical company, in Tianjin China. We had a really fun and interesting trip. We left Beijing on Tuesday morning and had about a 2.5 hour drive to Tianjin. When we got there we were brought to a conference room and given a brief introduction to the company. It was really interesting. They discussed how the company researches and implements the modernization of TCM through improving quality control and dosage strategies. They also discussed how a division of their company is dedicated to modern pharmaceutics and developing western medicine. It was a sharp contrast between western pharmaceutical companies where the sole focus is on western medicine. Tasly has a good balance between refining and modernizing TCM and also developing western medicines. Their strategy seems to be working because they are one of the most successful companies in China! We then had lunch with some of the executives of Tasly. It was a lot of fun to get to know them and to learn more about the company.

After this we went to visit Tianjin University of TCM. There we had a brief introduction to TUTCM. This is a very specialized university that solely focuses on the study of TCM. We had a tour of their campus and facilities. We saw training rooms where the students practice TCM techniques. There were machines with robotic arms so the students could practice reading a pulse (a very important diagnostic method in TCM). There was also a machine that takes a picture of a person's tongue so it can be used to diagnose a patient's disease state (another important TCM diagnostic tool). Some of us had our tongues read by the students. It was neat to see this specialized TCM school.

Katie learning how to check a pulse

Ana getting her tongue examined

That night we stayed in Tasly's company hotel. It was nice to escape our accommodations in Beijing for a night. Tasly also was a gracious enough to allow us the use of the Recreation Center. That was a lot of fun. There were a lot activities, such as a karaoke bar, a bowling alley, and ping-pong tables. We had a really good time.

The next day we had a tour of the Tasly factories and grounds. We saw where they process the herbs for the medicine and also where they package and store the finished products. To go into these areas we all had to dress up in white lab coats and wear hair nets and shoe envelopes. We looked pretty funny. We also explored the grounds. It was beautiful. There were many fountains and sculptures throughout the company land. There was also a beautiful, long carved stone wall that told a story of the development of TCM throughout China's history. It was a beautiful tour. The trip culminated with lunch and then we began our long drive back to Beijing. It was an amazing field trip and we are all so grateful for Tasly's hospitality.

The group dressed up to tour the factories

Zai jian!