During his official trip to China from June 4 to 8, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin visited the Tong Ren Tang Pharmacy on Dashilanr Commercial Street, Qianmen in Beijing, where he interacted with the pharmacy staff.

Previously a doctor, Alckmin studied traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for two years out of personal interest. During the visit, he eagerly discussed the benefits of TCM with practitioners and even demonstrated his acupuncture skills.

The Vice President shared a story about how he used his TCM knowledge to save a critically ill passenger during a flight. He also expressed his hope that this ancient medicine will contribute to cultural exchanges between Brazil and China.

After the visit, he exclaimed, “This nearly four-century-old pharmacy is unexpectedly large, with such a wide array of Chinese medicinal herbs. What an amazing experience.”

“I have been captivated by the millennia-long preservation and evolution of TCM, and I am also an acupuncturist myself,” he wrote in his June 6 post on the social media platform X.