Dali's TCM night market taps into young tastes

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-infused medicinal mooncakes displayed at a TCM culture-themed night market in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Chinese Medicine Hospital)

Coffee, mooncakes, lip balms, milk tea and combs — all infused with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) — drew large crowds at the fourth TCM-themed night market in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Organized by Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Chinese Medicine Hospital, the market ran daily from 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 17–19. It drew residents and tourists to the hospital grounds with TCM services, infused foods, creative cultural products and interactive activities.

Alongside familiar draws such as consultations with TCM practitioners and creative cultural products, this year's event added AI-assisted constitution assessment, new medicinal dishes, intangible cultural heritage experiences and health knowledge sharing. Medicinal cuisine returned with a wider menu.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the hospital's TCM-infused mooncakes drew considerable interest. Inspired by the Bai tradition of cooking with flowers, they are filled with rose, jasmine, sweet osmanthus, chrysanthemum and dendrobium, along with ingredients used in both cooking and medicine: papaya, poria, dried tangerine peel and goji berries.

The TCM-infused coffee and milk tea proved popular with younger visitors. Both combine more than 20 food-medicine ingredients with coffee or milk tea, offering a contemporary way to try traditional herbs.

Dali is rich in locally sourced medicinal herbs and has a long history of Bai ethnic medicine.

The hospital has held the TCM culture-themed night market for four consecutive years, bringing TCM services and culture beyond the clinic and into everyday life.

The night market has developed into a new setting for cultural tourism and nighttime consumption in Dali, combining TCM culture with local leisure and tourism activities.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-infused medicinal foods displayed at a TCM culture-themed night market in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Chinese Medicine Hospital)

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-infused tea drinks displayed at a TCM culture-themed night market in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Chinese Medicine Hospital).

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-infused medicinal foods displayed at a TCM culture-themed night market in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Chinese Medicine Hospital)

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-infused scented combs displayed at a TCM culture-themed night market in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Chinese Medicine Hospital)

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-inspired cultural and creative products displayed at a TCM culture-themed night market in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Chinese Medicine Hospital)

Local residents and tourists try medicinal foods at a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture-themed night market in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Chinese Medicine Hospital)