SCCC Presents Healing Heritage: Story of TCM in Singapore

Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) presents Healing Heritage, an exhibition that traces the story of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Singapore from its roots in the 19th century to its modern role in today’s society and daily life.

SCCC presents Healing Heritage

Healing Heritage will be held from 1st October 2025 to 22nd February 2026 at SCCC Creative Box at Level 6, this interesting, unique and immersive exhibition invites you to visit, explore and learn how TCM has evolved over the years in Singapore, blending tradition with innovation and staying relevant in today’s modern lifestyles.

Supported by Singapore Chinese Physicians’ Associations and Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution, Heeling Heritage highlights milestones in TCM’s development in Singapore, the impacts on the community, and how they are adapting to modern society. Through a diverse range of interpretive displays, historical artefacts, interactive experiences, and stories of medical organisations and brands, visitors can discover how TCM has evolved while remaining true in its cultural heritage as a living tradition in Singapore.

Discover TCM in Healing Heritage though five zones

Tracking the Healing Journey

When and how did TCM in Singapore get started? Follow and track the Healing Journey, learn about TCM’s development in Singapore, from the early 19th century medical halls to its journey today recognition in today’s healthcare system.

Some of the milestones include the founding of Thong Chai Medical Institution in 1867 and the recent inclusion of acupuncture under Medisave.

Encountering the Neighbourhood Healer

This might be a familiar sight for some of us here, a nostalgic feeling on visiting your neighbourhood medical hall with its classic wooden cabinets and drawers of herbs. In this zone, enter into a recreated medical hall, similar to the ones that you visited (yourself, or with your parents or grandparents).

Learn how family-run businesses adapted to changing times. Visitors can also try an interactive herb-matching game to learn about remedies hands-on. Check out the drawers too and the herbs on display. Does all these invoke nostalgia inside you, especially for those who are familiar with TCM medical halls?

Building Benevolence through Community

Discover the roles that charitable institutions and professional organisations in supporting healthcare during epidemics and raising standards through education and research. Exhibits include traditional acupuncture needles and early journals like Medical Monthly (Yiyao Yuekan)

Transforming Tradition Through Innovation

Even TCM has transformed itself through innovation, evolving with our modern life, from halal-certified remedies, to digital diagnostic tools and even vending machines.

Have you heard of canine acupuncture? If you haven’t, check out how TCM can be adapted and applied in veterinary care.

Sustaining a Living Heritage

Learn and experience how TCM has underwent changes and innovations over time, continuing to be a part of everyday life, from medicinal cuisine and herbal products to social media outreach by young TCM physicians such as THE TCM FOLKS.

Before you finish, discovering and learning about TCM, a conversation kiosk further invites you to reflect on your own encounters with TCM.

According to Alvin Tan, CEO of SCCC: “With Healing Heritage, we hope to focus on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a system of medicine and as a form of intangible cultural heritage, and to showcase TCM’s contributions to the Chinese community and to society. We also hope to highlight TCM’s impact and use beyond the Chinese community, and to raise public awareness of how TCM has endured, evolved and become part of Singaporeans’ everyday life.”

My TCM Healing Heritage Stories

Looking back when I was a young kid, I don’t understand much about TCM, my encounters were mainly the strong aroma from the different kinds of herbs from a traditional medical hall.

Drinking tonic soup made from those TCM herbs wasn’t a great experience as it was really bitter, There is a Chinese saying, “苦口良药”, it took me probably a few decades before I was able to understand and appreciate those bitter traditional Chinese soup. Nowadays, I am able to enjoy the medicinal cuisine dishes, although some of the TCM drinks are still really bitter and a challenge at times for me to drink it, even though it’s good for my health.

My personal thoughts and views are that TCM is highly under-rated and under appreciated by many of us (I am guilty of this). This Healing Heritage exhibition presented by SCCC is really enriching and informative, showcasing the rich history, heritage, culture and importance of TCM from its origins to our modern society today.

Share this Healing Heritage presented by SCCC to your family, relatives and friends, make it an extended family outing to this exhibition, and share your nostalgic TCM Healing Heritage stories.

Healing Heritage Exhibition Information