While Shanghai is now facing new challenges after the pandemic, theombre of wellbeing in the city has been steadily shifting. Yesterday, the local government laid out a number of new policies it plans to implement to encourage a healthier society. This change has come in light with the outbreak of the global pandemic which has shifted people’s focus on the relation between physical, psychological and the emotional wellbeing.

The authorities of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission announced the intention to use TCM procedures as a more active component of healthcare in Shanghai. This fits into a wider plan of integrating conventional medical practices with natural health care systems as well as modern technology in the quest to enhance the health standards of residents of the Country. Commission spokesman Dr Li Wei also highlighted this combined synergy, noting, ‘’There’s a new TCM trend among young people as a prevention and a disease prevention model. By applying these oriental standards to the contemporary setting of health care systems, the hope is to offer the citizens of Shanghai all the benefits of both.

Further to this, several large hospitals in Shanghai are set to establish TCM sections for the treatment of various diseases using acupuncture, herbal and other traditional medicine. All of these facilities will, in a way, complement traditional medical departments, making for an all-inclusive experience for the patients. The first of these integrated centers will be launched next month at the Shanghai United Family Hospital, and others will be made available for the rest of the year.

In parallel with the efforts to enhance the TCM integration, the city is now planning to cover mental health for the professional workforce. As an understanding of the effects that fast-growing megacity construction and stressful jobs have on mental health, the program is intended to offer affordable psychological services and change perceptions of mental disorders. The main feature of this drive is the involvement of corporate partners and several grand multinational companies based in Shanghai that are committed to introducing mental health day and corporate counseling services at the workplace.

In Shanghai, the wellness industry is being quick to adapt to these changes. Many luxury hotels and spas all over the city are updating their menus with TCM-inspired treatments and mindfulness programs. For example, the Peninsula Shanghai has recently launched a “Harmony and Balance” promotion that incorporates traditional elements of TCM together with modern spa experiences, not only as a way still to attract the locals but also to become a welcoming and inviting destination for international tourists who wish to experience an authentic taste of China.

Digital health platforms are also especially important in this revolution of well-being. HealthConnect, a Shanghai-based startup, has observed a rise in clients for its app, in which, apart from general health checks conducted by artificial intelligence, one can also speak to a TCM practitioner or a regular physician as a chatbot specialist. According to Zhang Mei, the CEO of the company, individuals realize the need for relevant and integrated Asian and Western solutions to health. People are free to contact different providers, offering everything from acupuncture sessions booking to individual constitution-based nutritional counseling.”

Open spaces in the city are growing into the health facilities, currently the new outdoor gym equipment is being placed, and free tai chi and qigong sessions are being organized for people with different ages. The concern with these programs is to promote physical activity and interaction with society, a problem characteristic of modern society, where people spend most of their time sitting down.

From an economic perspective, Shanghai is now starting to promote itself as a city of integrated health and wellness. The local government expects its wellness sector to generate up to 5 percent of the city’s gross domestic product by 2025 as it opens up new employment and as it paves the way for foreign investment in health-related industries.

As people get excited over these new health measures, some critics argue that there is a need to worry about the basics of public health. Dr. Chen Yuxin, a public health researcher at Fudan University, advised, “While embracing these new trends in health and wellbeing, new health advancement techniques, we need to remember that key elements for health enhancement include vaccination campaigns, improved air quality, and measures to protect food quality. Public health infrastructure is needed to build a healthy city, says Council of the City‘s Health.”

As this great city in China sets foot on this social transformation process towards the totality of health, the world is closely observing Shanghai. The outcomes of these measures might effectively stimulate other megacities aspiring to enhance the quality of life of their population in the aftermath of the pandemic. For now, they see it as producing chances for reviewing the future and options for health by integrating time and tested approaches with innovative technologies into a Shanghai lifestyle.