My Experience Trying Acupuncture & Cupping at Chain's TCM Residency at Upper House Hong Kong

HONG KONG

In a city where wellness often leans heavily on high-tech diagnostics and trendy treatments, Upper House Hong Kong is taking a refreshingly holistic turn. The hotel has partnered with Chain’s Medicare Centre to introduce its first Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) residency, blending centuries-old healing wisdom with modern wellbeing practices.

This one-of-a-kind residency offers personalised treatments for everything from facial rejuvenation and hormonal balance to fertility and pain relief. Chain’s heritage dates back to the Qing dynasty in the 18th century, when it was known as Ban Chuan Tong, founded by Chain Chi Tai, Imperial Doctor to Emperor Qianlong. Over eight generations, the family has preserved these traditions, now offered in Hong Kong through the modern Chain’s Medicare Centre. The residency is built around four signature programmes: Celestial Radiance (facial and body balance), The Blossom Ritual (fertility support), Meridian Reset (chronic pain and tension relief), and Lunar Harmony (midlife and menopausal support).

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Tea, then talk: the consultation

My experience began with a warm cup of tea — a soothing prelude that immediately grounded me before meeting Dr Samantha.

The consultation was thorough. Dr Samantha asked detailed questions about sleep, digestion, stress levels, and menstrual health, and guided me through issues around hormonal balance and fertility. Even if conception isn’t your immediate goal, acupuncture can help regulate cycles, improve circulation, and harmonise hormones. In TCM philosophy, everything is interconnected; a disturbance in one area can manifest elsewhere, making a holistic approach essential.

We also discussed more immediate concerns: lingering shoulder tension and water retention — exacerbated, I suspect, by Hong Kong’s recent stretch of grey, rainy weather. From there, Dr Samantha tailored my treatment plan.

My first acupuncture session

Despite my preconceptions of acupuncture, the needles were virtually pain-free.

Several were placed around my stomach to address water retention, a couple along my legs to stimulate circulation, and a few were on my face. Facial acupuncture, I learned, is about more than aesthetics — it encourages circulation, reduces inflammation, and supports overall energy flow.

Within minutes, a gentle heaviness settled into my limbs, my breathing slowed, and a quiet calm took over. In TCM terms, this is the movement of qi through the body’s meridians. The effect was subtle yet immediate — an almost meditative pause amidst the city’s usual hustle.

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Trying cupping for the first time

Cupping, by contrast, felt a bit more intense. Dr Samantha placed heated glass cups along my shoulders and upper back — areas perpetually tight from desk work. The initial suction felt strange, even slightly uncomfortable, but within a few minutes, my muscles began to relax.

Cupping stimulates blood flow, helps release tension, and encourages qi movement, particularly in chronically tight areas. Once the cups were removed, the relief was instantaneous: my shoulders felt lighter, looser, and noticeably freer. While the circular marks it leaves are visually striking, the immediate reduction in tension makes them a small price to pay.

Experiencing TCM with Chain's is a world apart from a typical clinic visit. The residency takes place in a dedicated room within Pacific Place Apartments, operated by Upper House, allowing guests privacy and tranquillity away from the bustle of the city.

The verdict

I arrived curious and left genuinely impressed.

Acupuncture and cupping may be ancient practices, but their effects feel strikingly relevant to modern life. My shoulders were immediately looser, my body calmer, and the lingering sense of wellbeing lasted long after leaving. There’s a reason these practices have endured for centuries: they work.

Pairing them with Upper House’s elegant, light-filled spaces and the Chain family’s deep TCM expertise elevates the experience beyond a typical clinic visit. For anyone in Hong Kong seeking holistic, personalised relief — whether for pain, hormonal balance, or fertility support — this residency offers a compelling, truly restorative escape.

Appointments are available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 10am to 1pm. Treatments are priced from HKD 1,950 for a consultation and acupuncture session, with signature programmes such as Meridian Reset or The Blossom Ritual starting at HKD 2,000. Guests leave not only with a personalised treatment plan but also, in my case, a take-home packet of three-date tea — a small but thoughtful reminder that wellbeing extends beyond the session.

Chain's Medicare Centre at Upper House Hong Kong

Enquiry & Booking (WhatsApp): +852 5599 4712

Email: enquiries@chains.hk

Location: Pacific Place Apartments Suite 1405, Hong Kong