A team led by Lu Zhangong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visited Gansu and Shanxi provinces from Aug 19 to 26 to help improve the discovery and protection of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) resources. 

The team from the Committee on Proposals of the CPPCC National Committee supervised and learned about the implementation of a key proposal on the discovery and protection of TCM resources during the tours and meetings in the cities of Lanzhou and Dingxi in Gansu and Shanxi's capital Taiyuan. 

They recognized the achievements made by the two provinces in recent years, such as a rising number of modern, large-scale plantations of TCM materials and the forming of diagnosis and treatment systems in line with TCM practices and advantages. The two provinces have also blazed new trails in applying TCM at medical institutions in rural areas and at community levels, thus meeting the diversified needs of the people. 

Despite the support policies, public endorsement and development opportunities, there are still many challenges in TCM development that should be addressed in order to safeguard the health of the people, according to members of the team.