Shared accommodation consists of twin rooms shared with another participant of the same gender whenever possible. If a same gender roommate is not available, participants may be assigned to share with a participant of the opposite sex.

We match roommates carefully and thoughtfully whenever possible.

If you are traveling with a friend, please let us know and we will place you together.

If you would prefer your own space, we recommend choosing the private room option.

To preserve the quality of the clinical experience and ensure meaningful access to doctors and departments, this program is limited to very small groups.

Each group is capped at a maximum of 10 participants.

We keep the group intentionally very small to protect the quality of the hospital experience. This allows close shadowing of doctors, real access to patients and treatments, meaningful hands-on learning, and smooth rotation through departments without disrupting daily hospital work.

Because of this structure, each cohort is genuinely limited edition and we cannot expand group size or accept unlimited applicants.

Places are allocated strictly on a first come first served basis. So once it's fully booked it will show as sold out.

Your place is only secured once your deposit or full payment has been received.

Booking interest alone does not reserve a place.

Once a group is full, no additional participants can be added.

Deposits are held to secure your place until mid May 2027, after that payment needs to be made in full.

Your deposit guarantees your spot, guaranteed you pay the remaining amount before the limit date.

Due to limited hospital capacity, we are not able to increase group size beyond the confirmed limit.

Definitely! A consultation in the hospital costs around 5 euros/dollars. Once you see the doctor and have a diagnosis they'll tell you which treatments you need and you can always get them during your stay.

The treatments are not included in the price as it'll truly depend on you and your condition.

People in past retreats always got lots of treatments during their internship, as there's so many true TCM masters in the hospital.

This is a clinical training immersion inside a real hospital. You will be observing real patients and shadowing real doctors every day.

Yes, absolutely.

You do not need to be advanced to join. We welcome students and practitioners at every stage, including people in their first year.

What matters most is a genuine love for the medicine and a real willingness to learn.

This is a clinical immersion inside a functioning hospital, and a lot of what you will see is not taught in the West at all. So even if you are already far into your studies, or fully qualified, you will still be exposed to treatment styles, diagnostic approaches, and hospital routines that are completely new.

If you are open, curious, and ready to soak it all in, this experience will meet you exactly where you are and take your understanding of TCM to the next level.

No. The program is fully conducted in English. Translators are present at all times when English is limited.

Not at all.

One of the most important things to understand is that a lot of what you’ll see in a real Chinese hospital is new for almost everyone, regardless of level.

Many of the protocols, treatment strategies, clinical routines, and ways of thinking you’ll be exposed to are simply not taught or commonly practiced in the West. So in many moments, the entire group is essentially starting from the same chapter.

This is not a competitive environment. It’s an immersion. Everyone benefits, and everyone learns together.

You can fly into either of Chengdu's two international airports:

• Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), the newer airport, located around 45 to 60 minutes from the city centre by metro or taxi. Most international flights now arrive here.
  
• Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), the older airport, located around 20 to 30 minutes from the city centre and used by many domestic and some international flights.

We recommend arriving on the official arrival day of your group. Once you've booked your flights, simply send us your itinerary so we know when to expect you. Detailed arrival instructions, including the best way to reach the hotel from either airport, will be sent closer to the internship.

Once your deposit is paid, your spot is immediately secured and your payment is processed and safely held by Shopify, which is a fully PCI-DSS compliant and encrypted payment platform used by millions of brands worldwide. Your payment details are never stored or visible to us.

Your place in the group is considered officially reserved as soon as the deposit goes through and you receive your automatic confirmation email and receipt.

To fully confirm your participation and ensure you are joining us, the remaining balance must be paid by middle of May 2027.

If you are on a payment plan, we will coordinate the remaining instalments with you personally.

If you need an invoice, receipt, or written confirmation for your records or visa purposes at any point, just let us know.

No. For ethical, legal, and clinical safety reasons, participants will not diagnose patients, perform acupuncture, prescribe herbs, or touch patients unless explicitly invited and supervised by a licensed Chinese doctor.

This immersion is designed as a deep observational and learning experience inside a functioning Traditional Chinese Medicine hospital. You will shadow doctors, observe real treatments, and learn directly from live clinical practice.

In rare cases, and only at the discretion of the supervising physicians, participants may be invited to assist with very simple tasks under direct supervision. Patient safety, consent, and clinical integrity are always our top priority.

Yes, you can book yourself a single room and bring your partner or family for free! They just need to pay for their own breakfast buffet spot which is around $8. We can help you book a bigger room.

No. This program is open to students, practitioners, and deeply committed learners. You need to ready to soak all the wisdom and magic you're going to see.

Yes, we recommend that you do. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is highly encouraged for all participants.

Your insurance must cover international travel, medical treatment abroad, hospital care, and emergency evacuation or repatriation.

This requirement is in place to ensure your safety and wellbeing throughout the immersion. By joining the program, you confirm that you hold valid insurance for the full duration of your stay in China.

The official diploma is issued directly by the Luzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the best in the country.

It confirms your participation in the hospital internship and the training completed during the program.

No. You will be observing, learning, and shadowing doctors. You will not be performing treatments.

Hospital training runs around seven hours per weekday.
Mornings and afternoons.
Long lunch and rest break included.
Evenings and weekends are free.

• Shadow doctors
• Observe consultations
• Watch treatments
• Learn diagnostic reasoning
• Rotate through departments
• Learn how real world TCM is practiced daily

This is an educational immersion certification.
It does not replace formal licensing in any way shape or form.

Breakfast is provided at the hotel, and there's a very big selection to choose from.
Lunch and dinner are eaten independently.
China offers many vegan, vegetarian, and allergy friendly options.

Meals typically cost around US$4 or less per meal.

The local food is fresh, hearty, and nourishing. Luzhou's cuisine reflects the flavours of Sichuan, with plenty of warming soups, seasonal vegetables, rice dishes, and traditional meals. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, many dishes naturally incorporate ingredients that help support digestion, balance dampness, and nourish Qi.

Comfortable clothing for workshops, walking shoes for the city tours, a swimsuit if you’d like to use a pool at some point, and any personal items you need. A detailed packing list will be sent to participants closer to the date.

Yes, the program balances workshops, treatments, and tours with enough time for you to relax, journal, or explore at your own pace. You can do so between 12pm-3pm (during lunch time), after 6pm or weekends.

All sessions and tours will be conducted in English, with local experts and guides assisting.

Breakfast is included with your hotel stay. For lunch and dinner, we will dine at curated local restaurants offering delicious, seasonal Chinese cuisine aligned with Traditional Chinese Medicine principles.

No. The hotel is 5 minutes walking distance from the hospital. If you want to enjoy Luzhou or Chengdu in your free time then you'll use DIDI, their version of Uber.

You are free after 6 pm and on weekends.
You can use Didi for taxis.
Beaches and nature are nearby.

If you're from most European Union countries, you do NOT need a visa to enter China for up to 30 days, as long as you hold an ordinary passport (excluding Sweden, Czechia, and Lithuania). 

United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and UAE: Also eligible for visa-free entry for up to 15 or 30 days (depending on country). United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most Latin American or African countries: A tourist visa (L visa) is still required.

Not at all. This is your internship, if you want to skip activities to rest or enjoy personal time that's up to you

Yes, absolutely! If you’d like to extend your stay before or after we’re happy to help you book extra nights at the same hotel, subject to availability.

Please note: Additional nights are not included in the package and will need to be paid separately to the hotel.

Yes. Three payment option available. Please email hello@herbarofficial.com with subject line internship.

Places are secured only once payment is received, either deposit or full booking.
Booking is first come first served.

Yes, if you are deeply serious about learning and immersing yourself in the medicine.

To secure your place, a deposit is required at the time of booking.

Your place is only confirmed once the deposit or full payment has been received.

If your visa is not approved

Your full deposit will be refunded upon proof of visa denial.

If you cancel more than one month before the program start date

Your deposit will be fully refunded.

If you cancel less than one month before the program start date

The deposit or full fee is non refundable, as hotel rooms and hospital placements will already be confirmed and paid for.

In cases of serious illness or death

If you are unable to attend due to serious illness or death of an immediate family member, your deposit will be refunded upon provision of appropriate documentation.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers cancellations for unforeseen circumstances.