Planting Seeds of Healing: A Malaysian Student’s Journey into Chinese Medicine

As applause echoed through Tianjin University's auditorium on July 5, Lee Hsuan Suan stepped forward, her heart pounding. In perfect Chinese, the Malaysian graduate shared her dream with fellow classmates and teachers: “I aspire to plant seeds of Traditional Chinese Medicine worldwide, bringing its healing power to more people.”

Li, 23, was born in Kampar, Malaysia—a peaceful town nestled in Perak State—and raised in a household proud of its Chinese heritage. From a young age, she was fascinated by medicine, particularly treatments targeting cancer. “Cancer remains one of humanity’s greatest medical challenges,” Li says earnestly. “I want to contribute to its solutions.”

When she graduated high school, Li faced a crossroads. She eventually chose China, attracted by its forefront position in pharmaceutical research and eager to reconnect with her ancestral culture. Tianjin University, with its fully internationalized English-taught pharmaceutical curriculum, stood out. “It was perfect for me,” she smiles.

At Tianjin, Li excelled academically, graduating first in her class with a 3.95 GPA. But it was a field trip to rural Gansu Province last year that truly transformed her perspective. Joining Tianjin University’s “Quest into Chinese Herbs” team to visit Tan Chang County in China’s Jiang Su province—famous for herbs like Huangqi and Dangshen—Li was amazed by the flourishing herbal farms and thriving local communities. “Many foreigners hold outdated ideas about rural China,” Li says. “But what I saw were modernized villages and empowered people.”

She vividly recalls visiting a village livestream studio, where herbal teas and health products reached thousands of customers instantly through e-commerce. “Perhaps one day, I’ll be the one standing in front of the camera, sharing TCM’s benefits globally,” she wrote in her journal that night.

Li’s determination to promote TCM was solidified after she and fellow Malaysian students at Tianjin University wrote a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping. President Xi warmly acknowledged their message during diplomatic exchanges with Malaysia, encouraging them to continue fostering friendship between the two nations. “That was incredibly motivating,” Li reflects. “It reminded me that my aspirations have real meaning in international relations.”

Outside academics, Li found balance in artistic pursuits—painting digital art and singing in the university choir. “Painting trained my patience and precision,” she explains, “qualities essential in laboratory research.”

Now Li’s journey continues. Accepted directly into a doctoral program at Tsinghua University’s Shenzhen International Graduate School, she plans to specialize in drug delivery research—a field critical for safe, effective medical treatments. “My dream is to integrate the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine with modern pharmaceutical science,” she says, eyes bright. “I want to build bridges between East and West, tradition and innovation, to tackle global health challenges.”

Looking back at her four transformative years in Tianjin, Li smiles gratefully. “I came here seeking knowledge,” she says, “but found a mission.” 

By Eva Yin