| MANY overseas tourists are coming to Shanghai for traditional Chinese
medical treatments that are available in some hotels. For years, Mike Wang, a
45-year-old overseas Chinese man who lives in the United States, suffered from lower back
pain and insomnia.
Finally, his orthopedist in Hong Kong advised him to try traditional Chinese medicine
rather than have an operation to alleviate his back pain.
As it turned out, his doctor was right. While staying at Shanghai's Radisson SAS
Lansheng Hotel earlier this year, Wang saw Li Chenglin, a traditional massage expert, in
the hotel's Health Centre.
With his years of experience, Li soon discovered the source of Wang's problems and was
able to offer a remedy.
A week later, Wang was much better. His back problems ceased and his insomnia had all
but disappeared.
"We have co-operated with the renowned Hengshan Hospital in Shanghai to set up the
Health Centre with noted traditional Chinese doctors to practise medicine," said Yang
Tairong, general manager of Radisson SAS Lansheng Hotel.
The centre also provides tourists with other services to treat illnesses, such as
health foods and tonics, acupuncture and moxibustion. The use of the hotel gymnasium is
also available.
"Traditional Chinese medicine, including medical massage, acupuncture and herbal
medicine, will be a new attractive service in China's tourism market," Yang said.
Unlike other provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, Shanghai's attraction is
not based on beautiful natural scenery. But as China's largest city and financial and
commercial centre, it still attracts many tourists and, of course, businessmen.
"The best way to invite more tourists to stay in our city is to improve services
and offer more services that they would want," Yang said.
Tomorrow, the '99 Shanghai Tourism Festival will open.
It is expected that more than 1.6 million tourists from overseas will have visited
Shanghai by year's end, according to a survey by the Shanghai Tourism Administration. |
