At a Chinese medicine forum currently being held in Guangzhou, Vice Minister of Health, Wang Guoqiang, says acupuncture will apply for World Intangible Cultural Heritage status.

Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting and manipulating needles into various points on the body to release pain. When asked about why acupuncture would push for the recognition, Wang explained that Chinese medicine as a whole would be too complicated to explain to panels, and might be hard to get official recognition.

Acupuncture, though only a part of the traditional Chinese medical system, is often seen and practiced in many countries. It integrates the principles and theories of traditional Chinese medicine, making it a perfect subject to be entered onto the World Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The application has been submitted to the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization.