Cape Town Mayor Experiences Traditional Chinese Acupuncture at Dragon Boat Festival

Cape Town, 24 May 2025 – Visitors to this year’s Dragon Boat Festival in Cape Town were treated to more than thrilling races and cultural performances — they also witnessed a remarkable showcase of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with a special highlight being the Mayor of Cape Town personally receiving a Chinese acupuncture treatment.

Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine at the University of the Western Cape, the showcase aimed to foster cultural exchange and holistic wellness through hands-on demonstrations and interactive sessions.

In a symbolic act of intercultural friendship and genuine personal interest, Cape Town Mayor Mr. Geordin Hill-Lewis volunteered to receive an acupuncture treatment himself. Smiling and visibly relaxed, the Mayor described the experience as “fascinating and calming,” and commended the event for its role in uniting communities through shared cultural traditions and health education.

“This festival is a celebration of diversity,” the Mayor noted. “Trying acupuncture for the first time was not only educational but also deeply symbolic of our city’s embrace of global cultures.”

The event featured live acupuncture demonstrations, free wellness consultations, and expert insights into acupuncture’s benefits for pain relief, stress reduction, and general well-being. The showcase sparked considerable interest among attendees, many of whom expressed a desire to learn more about Chinese medicine.

The Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu Festival, is an annual celebration that includes boat races, traditional Chinese cuisine such as zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and rich cultural exhibitions. This year’s addition of Traditional Chinese Medicine programming added a unique and welcome dimension to one of Cape Town’s most dynamic multicultural events.