A doctor treats a patient's leg injury. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"We aim to popularize TCM, so the public can better understand and benefit from this cultural treasure," said Wang Baohe, hospital president. Blending medicine, diet, wellness, and education, the festival featured hands-on experiences and cultural displays.

A doctor introduces medicinal tea to a citizen. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The hospital, also known as the Fourth Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM, was accredited as the first Grade 3A TCM hospital in Binhai, giving it priority access to national projects and attracting top talent, according to Wang.

In the medicinal food zone, innovative herbal recipes like donkey-hide gelatin soft bread and pumpkin toast drew young people. "It's healthy, delicious, and modern, and TCM really appeals to young people now," said Cheng Hao, sipping heat-dispelling tea.

A doctor examines a patient's eyes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Free consultations offered by specialists in orthopedics and pediatrics were popular among attendees.

"My granddaughter often has stomachaches. I just learned about the health-preserving gourd moxibustion here from the doctor and plan to bring her to try it in a few days," said Gao Aiping, a citizen who had just consulted at the pediatrics desk.

Recitation of Shi Shuo (On Teachers) at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Visitors also lined up to experience traditional therapies such as guasha (a traditional Chinese scraping therapy) and auricular point pressing.

"This festival helps bring TCM closer to the public, allowing more people to understand and benefit from it," said Liu Gesheng, secretary of the Party Committee of the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In a highlight ceremony, six students in traditional robes performed the teacher-apprenticeship rite for six veteran practitioners including Wang Baohe.

A calligrapher holds a calligraphy performance. [Photo by Lu Ruotong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

According to staff members from the hospital's TCM Clinical Research Center, TCM mentorship mainly adopts the traditional master-apprentice model to cultivate successors. Through apprentices participating in diagnosis and treatment practices alongside their masters, the masters' experience is inherited, which is an important way to inherit and develop traditional medicine.

"The ceremony made me feel the deep roots and responsibility of inheriting TCM," said He Guoping, an apprentice. "I hope to carry forward my master's teachings and ethics."

Lu Ruotong contributed to this story.