A unique bar… here, you cannot simply order your favorite drink. Instead, your pulse determines what you drink. Located in Shanghai, China, this bar checks a customer’s pulse before a cocktail is ordered, and the drink is prepared based on that reading. The bar has become a topic of conversation due to this novel way of serving drinks.
Usually, when visiting a hotel or restaurant, people order their preferred drinks. However, the situation is quite the opposite at Shanghai’s ‘Nyang King’ bar. Here, drinks are served based on the body’s needs rather than personal preference. Upon arrival, a customer’s pulse is checked; subsequently, a mixologist prepares a cocktail for them using special herbs. In other words, everyone is not served the same type of drink here; instead, the beverage provided is tailored to the body’s specific needs.
Such TCM bars exist in various cities across China. They are frequented by people who—amidst their busy schedules—neglect their health. This concept is being referred to as “Punk Wellness.” Simply put, people who stay up late, consume fast food, and endure high levels of work-related stress come here to drink these herbal-infused beverages. Ding, a TCM expert, notes that the use of alcohol in Chinese medicine is nothing new; these are known as “medicinal wines.” Here, efforts are being made to raise awareness among people about their health through pulse diagnosis and the provision of a special drink.
