Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has spread to 196 countries and regions and has made significant contributions to human health throughout history and in the present day. It is a treasure of human civilization. To promote and carry forward TCM culture, cultivate internationally oriented TCM professionals, further advance mutual learning among civilizations and people-to-people connectivity, contribute to building a global community of health for all, and provide a higher-level academic exchange platform for university students and young TCM practitioners worldwide while broadening their international perspectives and strengthening their interdisciplinary research capabilities, the “Jizhou Cup” 8th World Essay Competition for College Students on the Internationalization of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the International Showcase of Acupuncture Science Popularization will be held under the guidance of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS). The event will be jointly organized by the Center for International Development of TCM of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Center for Global Biosecurity Governance of China Foreign Affairs University, and hosted by Quzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Details are as follows:

Competition Duration

From July to November, 2026

Participants

College students (junior college students, undergraduates, postgraduates, and doctoral candidates), with no restriction on nationality, university or major. Young TCM practitioners, including management trainees and interns at various TCM enterprises and institutions.

Theme Categories

The competition is divided into three groups. Participants may choose any group to enter. Different essays can be submitted to different groups, but the same paper cannot be submitted to multiple groups.

【Professional Group】

Topics include the overseas development of TCM, acupuncture research overseas, the overseas cultivation of Chinese medicinal plants, the integrated development of TCM and artificial intelligence, international communication of TCM culture, TCM-related content for international media, international prospects for the modernization of TCM, comparative studies of traditional medicine around the world, the overseas development of TCM enterprises, and international TCM assistance. Topics are not limited to the above. Participants may also adopt a macro perspective, focus on specific issues in the internationalization of TCM, and conduct multidimensional and interdisciplinary research.

Language: Essays shall be written in Chinese or English and must follow the conventions of academic writing. They should be 5,000–10,000 words in length. A 200–300-word abstract in both Chinese and English is also required.

【Innovation Group】: Global Promotion and Innovation of TCM Specialized Therapies, Techniques, and Clinical Departments

In the digital and information age, participants should draw on modern communication methods, technological developments, and evolving patterns of consumption to propose innovative recommendations and plans for the contemporary development of distinctive TCM therapies and the transmission of the expertise of renowned TCM practitioners. Topics may include product and service design, brand building, marketing plans, the safeguarding and transmission of intangible cultural heritage, clinical department development, and patient (user) management.

Language: Essays shall be written in Chinese or English, with no restriction on genre. They should be approximately 5,000 words in length and include both text and illustrations. A 200–300-word abstract in both Chinese and English is also required. Original images included in the entry may be presented in subsequent showcase activities.

【Science Popularization Group】: TCM Science Popularization

Topics include popularizing basic knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine among the general public overseas; practical acupuncture techniques and health-preservation knowledge for overseas audiences; identification of Chinese medicinal materials and knowledge of medicated diets and dietary therapy; AI-enabled, user-friendly applications of traditional Chinese medicine; engaging cross-cultural communication of traditional Chinese medicine; creation of TCM-related popular science content for overseas audiences through various media; accessible explanations of modernized traditional Chinese medicine; comparative introductions to traditional medicine systems around the world; overseas public outreach practices by TCM brands; and inspiring stories of international TCM assistance.

Language: Essays shall be written in Chinese or English, with no restriction on genre. They should be approximately 2,000 words in length and include both text and illustrations. A 200–300-word abstract in both Chinese and English is also required. Original images included in the entry may be presented in subsequent showcase activities.

Competition Schedule

From now to August 10:

Preliminary Round

Mid-August:

Semi-final Round

Early September:

Final Round

After the Final Round:

Science Popularization Outcomes Showcase

How to Participate

Scan the QR code below or click the link (https://r81xgjdj.jsjform.com/f/UyDGhn) to join the pre-registration group, complete the registration form, and submit your essay via email as required before the registration deadline. Your registration will be complete once these steps have been completed.

Please send your essay in Word format to contact@wfas.org.cn no later than 24:00 Beijing Time, August 10, 2026. Please use “Essay TCM internationalization + [Group]” as the subject, and state your name and university in the email. The information must be consistent with that provided in the registration form.

For international participants without WeChat, please include the following information in your submission email: Author's school, nationality, ethnicity, full name, gender, age, academic major, year of study, and contact number.

Email subject line example: Essay TCM internationalization + Professional Group

Competition Rules

1.Experts of the review group will conduct the preliminary screening of papers, and select the papers that meet the requirements to enter the semi-final competition. Participants who advance to the semi-finals will be required to create and post short video content.

2.The competition is intended to cultivate internationally oriented TCM professionals, and contestants are expected to demonstrate relevant communication skills. Contestants who advance to the semi-finals must create a short video based on the topic of their essay to promote TCM online and publish it on a social media platform where view counts can be recorded. Fifty percent of the finalists will be selected by the expert panel based on their essays, while the other 50 percent will be determined by the ranking of the videos’ total views across online platforms. The Organizing Committee will issue electronic participation certificates to contestants who advance to the semi-finals.

3. In the final round, participants will deliver presentations of their essays (using PowerPoint slides). Judges will score based on both the live presentation performance and the content of the essay.

4. Short videos will be evaluated separately during the final round. Authors whose short videos advance to the final round must record a three-minute video explaining their creative concept and process. The judges will score and rank the short videos separately based on their quality, creativity, the author’s presentation, and their reach during the competition period.

5. Outcomes Showcase: A list of selected works will be announced. Outstanding acupuncture science popularization works for international audiences will be presented at subsequent showcase activities.

Awards

【Professional Group】

Awards will be determined by ranking judges’ scores from the finals in descending order. The 1st and 2nd place winners will each receive RMB 10,000; the 3rd to 8th place winners will each receive RMB 5,000; and the 9th to 18th place winners will each receive RMB 2,000. All amounts are inclusive of taxes and fees.

【Innovation Group】

Awards will be determined by ranking judges’ scores from the finals in descending order. The top 8 winners will each receive RMB 2,000. All amounts are inclusive of taxes and fees.

【Science Popularization Group】

Awards will be determined by ranking judges’ scores from the finals in descending order. The top 8 winners will each receive RMB 2,000. All amounts are inclusive of taxes and fees.

【Short Video】

Awards will be determined by ranking judges’ scores from the finals in descending order. The top 6 winners will each receive RMB 1,500. All amounts are inclusive of taxes and fees.

Note:

Each essay may be submitted to only one group. Entries must be previously unpublished. Any entry found to have already been published will be disqualified. Short videos posted on media platforms must comply with the rules of the respective platforms. If a video is removed or the relevant account is suspended, its view count will be deemed zero.

Organizing Committee of World Essay Competition for College Students: Internationalization of Traditional Chinese Medicine

July 2026