Nanyang, Henan – May 10–12, 2025 — The 8th China Moxa Industry Development Conference was held in Nanyang, bringing together over 300 moxa-related enterprises across a 10,000-square-meter exhibition area. Themed around “New Quality Productive Forces,” the event highlighted technological innovation as a driving force for upgrading the full moxa industry chain and invigorating its role in traditional Chinese medicine and the wellness sector.
With increasing public attention to health and wellness, demand for moxa products has surged in recent years. In Nanyang alone, a complete industry chain covering cultivation, processing, production, sales, healthcare, and equipment manufacturing has taken shape. Nationwide, the industry’s output exceeded RMB 39.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach nearly RMB 100 billion by 2030. However, challenges persist, including a lack of standardization, weak coordination across the chain, and uneven product quality.
During the conference, a themed forum titled “Empowering Traditional Chinese Medicine with New Quality Productive Forces” gathered experts from academia, research, industry, and application sectors to discuss collaborative strategies for upgrading the moxa industry through innovation.
Gui Yan'yao, President of the Zhang Zhongjing Health Industry Promotion Association and former Director of the Nanyang Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, emphasized the city’s progress since President Xi Jinping's 2021 visit. “We have implemented the Moxa Industry High-Quality Development Doubling Plan (2021–2025), advancing three major transformations and a systemic upgrade of the entire chain,” he said. Nanyang now boasts 300,000 mu of moxa plantations, eight local technical standards, and a controllable supply chain “from field to factory.” The city hosts over eight companies with annual outputs above RMB 1 billion, controls over 70% of the domestic moxa market, and exports to Asia and Europe. The “Nanyang Moxa” brand is valued at over RMB 50 billion.
Professor Zheng Shouzeng, former President of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Chairman of the Moxa Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of Chinese Medicine Research, stated that improving the industry chain is crucial to sustainable growth. He called for deeper collaboration between academia, research institutions, and leading enterprises to enhance scientific understanding of moxa’s medicinal properties and develop innovative market-oriented products.
“Industrial innovation and strategic development paths tailored to the moxa sector are key to its future,” Zheng said. “New quality productive forces can help the industry tap into new growth points within modern society.”
During the event, Tianzihui Holdings and the Wolong District TCM Development Service Center signed a strategic agreement to launch a Moxa Industry Chain Empowerment Fund. According to Tianzihui CEO Niu Nan, seamless integration of planting, processing, sales, and services is critical to overcoming industry fragmentation.
“Standardized cultivation ensures quality raw materials, while technical innovation in processing adds value. At the service level, modular solutions and traceable delivery systems are needed to guarantee both effectiveness and user experience,” Niu explained.
Niu also emphasized smart manufacturing as a key enabler—reducing costs while allowing practitioners to focus on personalized moxibustion therapies. Innovations include embedding ID chips in moxa sticks and implementing IoT-based management for traceability and service integration.
“As the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) accelerates, we see policy dividends facilitating TCM service trade across member countries,” Niu said. “Building a full-cycle product management and standardized delivery system is vital to transforming moxa into a global symbol of high-quality traditional Chinese medicine.”
(Source: China Trade News)