The Ministry of Commerce and five other central authorities have recently named 18 regions nationwide as pilot areas for the integrated development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) service consumption and trade. Nantong is the only city selected in Jiangsu Province. The pilot program is designed to boost the coordinated development of TCM service consumption and trade, and better meet market demand for international health and wellness services.

Nantong has long fostered an integrated development model of TCM + Tourism + Health & Wellness. Drawing on the academic heritage of the Zhang-Zhu School, the brand influence of Rugao as a World Longevity Township, nationally renowned TCM cultural venues and an international cooperation framework, the city has forged a unique ecosystem for TCM health tourism. It is home to 20 provincial-level TCM intangible cultural heritage items, 108 provincial-standard TCM clinics, 32 top-tier graded TCM clinics, and 778 traditional medical workshops. Six TCM service bases for overseas Chinese have been set up in the urban area of Nantong. A full industrial chain has taken shape, spanning Chinese medicinal herb cultivation, R&D and manufacturing, as well as health and wellness services. Nantong has rolled out four high-end TCM-themed tourist routes, enabling in-depth integration of TCM resources with natural and cultural landscapes. Four core themed segments have taken shape: cultural experience, ecological wellness, industrial sightseeing, and longevity leisure.