Hangzhou Public Library has just opened a one-of-a-kind branch in the historic Dadou Road neighborhood of Gongshu District — and it smells as much of herbal remedies as it does of printed pages. Created in partnership with Shengshengtang Grand Canal Chinese Medicine Culture Experience Center, the new “TCM & Wellness”-themed library is an innovative attempt to weave traditional Chinese medicine into the city’s public reading services. Stocked with over 5,000 volumes — from classic medical texts and wellness guides to seasonal recipes and dietary therapy — the branch offers free borrowing to residents.

Think of it as a library where books meet botanicals. Leveraging the Library’s rich literary collections and Shengshengtang’s deep heritage in Chinese medicine, the branch features a unique “classics + wellness + hands-on experience” service model. Coming up: health lectures, DIY herbal product workshops, and exhibits of TCM-inspired cultural merchandise. The goal? To seamlessly blend public reading spaces with TCM culture, letting residents soak up the wisdom of traditional healing in an immersive way — and bring it into their daily lives.

Opening day was packed with highlights. Visitors tried their hand at making herbal sachets, getting up close with the intangible cultural heritage of TCM craftsmanship. Dr. Gu Xiaomin, professor and chief physician at the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, led a “Joint Protection and Wellness Exercise” routine — turning professional health knowledge into simple moves anyone can follow. Meanwhile, Dr. Li Zhiyin, a gastroenterology expert from the same hospital, delivered a “Whole Health Expert Lecture,” tackling hot-button topics like daily wellness and chronic condition management, offering practical, no-nonsense health guidance.

As a flagship project marrying Hangzhou’s public cultural services with TCM heritage, the new branch creates a fresh platform for bringing ancient medical texts to life and popularizing Chinese medicine. It makes millennial healing wisdom feel tangible, hands-on, and learnable in today’s world. At the same time, it enriches the city’s “15-minute reading circle,” connecting library access with health services and delivering a seamless “culture + wellness” one-stop experience for residents.

By the numbers, the Library has recently added 31 special-themed branches through social collaborations — covering nature, the Grand Canal, Song dynasty aesthetics, digital technology, and more. Together with city reading rooms, reading stations, and neighborhood book nooks, they’ve made “borrow here, return there” a reality, bringing high-quality public reading resources right to residents’ doorsteps.