Chongqing University of Chinese Medicine | Chinese Universities

Chongqing University of Chinese Medicine is a full-time public undergraduate university focusing on Chinese medicine disciplines. It is sponsored by the People’s Government of Chongqing Municipality and administered by the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission.

The origin of Chongqing University of Chinese Medicine can be traced back to the 1950s. In 1951, the Health Department of the Southwest Military and Administrative Commission founded the Chongqing Advanced Training School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the earliest institutions of Chinese medicine education in China. It was successively renamed Sichuan Chongqing School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chongqing School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Hu Ximing, then Vice Minister of Health and Director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, praised it as “the Huangpu of Traditional Chinese Medicine”. Many renowned Chinese medicine scholars including Lu Zhijun, Ran Xuefeng, Ren Yingqiu, Wu Zhaoxian and Shen Zhonggui once taught and worked here, making positive contributions to the cultivation of Chinese medicine talents for New China. In 2001, Chongqing School of Traditional Chinese Medicine was fully incorporated into Chongqing Medical University and became its College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the Chongqing Municipal Government decided to take the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Chongqing Medical University as an important foundation, and integrate high-quality municipal resources of Chinese medicine education, medical care and scientific research including Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica and Chongqing Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation to plan and establish Chongqing University of Chinese Medicine at a high standard. In June 2023, the establishment of the university was officially approved by the Ministry of Education. In September 2025, it became a Doctoral Degree-granting Institution.

The university is located in the Ecological Zone for Industry-Education Integration in Chongqing (Western University Town), at No. 61 Guoxue Road, Bicheng Sub-district, Bishan District, Chongqing. The planned total land area covers 1,866 mu with a total construction area of 500,000 square meters. The completed South Campus occupies 645.55 mu with a construction area of 209,800 square meters, equipped with complete teaching facilities and a pleasant environment.

In school-running practice, the university adheres to the motto “Promote Virtue to Benefit the World, Refine Medical Skills to Serve People”, upholds the philosophy of “Equal emphasis on Chinese medicine and herbal medicine, integration of teaching, research, medical service and industry”, and carries forward the spirit of “Great Physicians Devoted to Healing, Forge Ahead with Innovation”. It follows the development path of “Establish the university through teaching, vitalize the university through talents, strengthen the university through scientific research, and enrich the university through industry”. Striving to highlight its characteristics and consolidate strengths, the university commits itself to cultivating high-caliber talents with patriotism, practical capabilities, innovative spirit and global vision who can meet the development demands of the Chinese medicine sector and general health industry. It is an institution of higher Chinese medicine learning integrating knowledge dissemination, academic research, social services and cultural inheritance.

The university aims to build a high-level talent training system featuring “integration of medicine and education, inheritance and innovation, and all-round development”. It currently has 11 teaching units: School of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina (School of Orthopedics and Traumatology), School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, General Education School, Basic Medical School, School of Marxism, Graduate School, School of Nursing, School of Continuing Education, and Library (Information Technology Center). Thirteen undergraduate majors are offered, including Chinese Medicine, Chinese Health Preservation, Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Orthopedics and Traumatology of Chinese Medicine, Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine, Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Clinical Medicine, Nursing, Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Pharmaceutical Preparation, Resources and Development of Chinese Materia Medica, Health Service and Management, Cultivation and Identification of Chinese Herbal Medicines, and Medical Insurance. The university has 1 Doctoral Program in Professional Degree of Chinese Medicine, and 4 Master’s Degree Programs covering Chinese Medicine, Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Materia Medica (Professional), and Chinese Medicine (Professional).

Thirteen university-level research institutions have been established, including Chongqing Academy of Strategic Development for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Academy of Digital Intelligent Traditional Chinese Medicine, Academy of Ancient Chinese Medicine, Academy of Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine, Academy of General Health (Medicinal and Edible Products), Academy of Tendon Meridian Research, Academy of Authentic Chongqing Chinese Medicinal Materials, Academy of Modern Engineering Technology for Chinese Materia Medica, Research Center for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Academy of Chinese Liver Diseases under the Modern Chinese Medicine Industry College, Research Center for Chinese Medicine Innovation, and Research Center for Chinese Spleen and Stomach Diseases. There are 6 expert studios: National Famous Chinese Medicine Master Liu Huabao Studio, Chongqing Famous Chinese Medicine Master Tang Chenglin Studio, Chongqing Outstanding Young Chinese Medicine Master Zhao Chaoting Studio, Qihuang Scholar Tang Xudong Studio, Municipal-level Skills Master Studio of Acupuncture and Tuina, and Municipal-level Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Studio of “Wang’s Subtle Pulse Diagnosis”.

The university (including two academies, one institute and directly affiliated hospitals) has 13,335 faculty and staff (505 on the main campus), among whom 435 are full-time teachers. The faculty includes 3 National Famous Chinese Medicine Masters, 1 National Qihuang Scholar and 1 Young Qihuang Scholar, 22 experts enjoying Special Government Allowances from the State Council, and 11 experts with National Inheritance Studios for Renowned Senior Chinese Medicine Practitioners. There are 282 provincial and municipal talents such as Chongqing Talents, Chongqing Famous Chinese Medicine Masters and Chongqing Academic and Technical Leaders. The teaching team consists of distinguished domestic and overseas experts as well as outstanding young and middle-aged teachers covering all age groups. Among full-time teachers, 223 hold doctoral degrees and 268 have senior professional titles.

The university adheres to “Foster Virtue through Education and Cultivate People with Culture” throughout its talent training work. Drawing nourishment from profound Chinese culture and traditional Chinese medicine culture, it cultivates socialist builders and successors with all-round development of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics and labor capabilities. Taking undergraduate education as the main body, the university actively develops postgraduate education and coordinates the development of international student education and continuing education. It owns 1 doctoral degree program and 4 master’s degree programs. There are 5,351 full-time undergraduate students. The planned enrollment of full-time students (including postgraduates) will reach 15,000 by 2030. A total of 186 full-time postgraduates are jointly trained with Chongqing Medical University, including 9 doctoral students and 177 master’s students; 16 master’s students are jointly trained with Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine and other institutions. There are 284 students receiving continuing education. The university develops an integrated education model combining institutional education and mentor-apprentice education, and launches experimental mentor-apprentice classes such as Liu Xiaozhong Experimental Class for Ancient Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Yanqingmen Chinese Orthopedic Inheritance Class. It cultivates “Triple-qualified Distinguished Teachers” — teachers who can diagnose patients, doctors who can teach, and scientists who can cultivate talents. Every student is assigned three types of tutors: growth tutor, academic tutor and research tutor, supporting the development of both teachers and students.

Following the development guideline of “Uphold Tradition and Pursue Innovation, Promote Interdisciplinary Integration”, the university drives in-depth breakthroughs and diversified expansion in scientific research. It has 5 key disciplines recognized by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and 22 municipal key disciplines of Chinese medicine, as well as 25 provincial and ministerial-level research platforms and above. The total value of teaching and research equipment reaches 337.1343 million yuan. The library holds 526,100 printed books and provides access to 52,400 electronic journals.

The university has won 1 First Prize of National Teaching Achievement Award. It has claimed numerous awards in municipal teaching competitions, including 1 First Prize, 2 Second Prizes and 2 Third Prizes in the Chongqing University Ideological and Political Theory Teachers’ Teaching Skills Competition; 2 First Prizes, 1 Second Prize and 4 Third Prizes in the Chongqing Teachers’ Teaching Innovation Competition; 2 Second Prizes and 5 Third Prizes in the Chongqing Micro-lesson Competition. Five courses including Tuina Therapy and Culture of Traditional Chinese Medicine have been selected as municipal-level Model Courses for Curriculum Ideology and Politics. Fourteen courses such as Acupuncture Therapy and Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Anorectal Diseases are listed among Chongqing University First-class Undergraduate Courses, among which Acupuncture Therapy is recognized as a National First-class Course. A total of 104 education and teaching research projects at all levels have been approved, and 12 textbooks including national textbooks for the 14th Five-Year Plan have been compiled. National Intangible Cultural Heritage programs such as Yanqingmen Orthotherapy, Liu’s Spooning and Ironing Therapy, and Zhao’s Thunder-fire Moxibustion have been incorporated into teaching to inherit characteristic Chinese medicine culture.

The university has 12 directly affiliated hospitals including Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing Orthopedic Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiulongpo District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangjin District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qijiang District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dianjiang County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yongchuan District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bishan District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changshou District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunyang County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beibei District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Fuling District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It also has 2 directly affiliated research institutions: Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica and Chongqing Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation. The affiliated hospitals have 10,196 authorized beds, with an annual outpatient volume of 8.2848 million visits. There are 2 National Regional Chinese Medicine (Specialized) Diagnosis and Treatment Centers, 21 National Advantageous Chinese Medicine Specialties, 6 National Key Clinical Specialties (Traditional Chinese Medicine Direction), 12 National Key Chinese Medicine Specialties and 9 National Characteristic Chinese Medicine Specialties. In addition, it owns 2 municipal Chinese Medicine Medical Centers, 17 Municipal Famous Chinese Medicine Departments, 89 Municipal Key Chinese Medicine Specialties and 15 Municipal Characteristic Chinese Medicine Specialties. Four National Standardized Training Bases for Chinese Medicine Resident Physicians have been built, together with 43 off-campus practice bases and 1 approved municipal-level Modern Industrial College. The university has established a sound clinical and practical teaching system. Through courses of “Early Clinical Exposure” and “Early Practical Training”, clinical teaching, internship and clerkship are arranged for all students to continuously improve their practical capabilities.

Guided by the principle of “Coordinated Development, Serve Local Community”, the university explores new models of university-local and university-enterprise cooperation. It supports well-known Chinese medicine enterprises such as Jilin Aodong and Jiangxi Kemei to settle in Bishan. Strategic cooperation agreements have been signed with governments of 24 districts and counties to carry out the initiative of “Boosting Education in Districts and Counties”. The university conducts germplasm breeding, promotion and industrial services for authentic superior Chinese medicinal materials represented by “Top Ten Medicinal Herbs of Chongqing”. It has founded industry-education research institutes including Academy of Authentic Chongqing Chinese Medicinal Materials and Daba Mountain Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, and created the “1+N+X+S” innovative model for transformation and industrialization of scientific research achievements. Centers focusing on germplasm innovation and utilization of Chinese medicinal materials and intelligent herbal decoction have been set up to deepen university-enterprise, university-local and inter-university cooperation.

Closely following the Belt and Road Initiative, the university develops high-quality international cooperation programs, strives to build the Pilot Zone for Internationalization of Chinese Medicine Education (Chongqing), establishes the Overseas Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, and builds international service platforms including the Overseas Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (Singapore).

Standing at a new development stage, the university will implement new development concepts, foster a new development pattern, comprehensively enhance its comprehensive strength and core competitiveness. It aims to build a highland for Chinese medicine talent cultivation and a source of innovative Chinese medicine achievements, lead the high-quality development of Chinese medicine undertakings in Chongqing, and strive to become a first-class university of Chinese medicine leading Western China and renowned nationwide.