140rmb seems way too much. You may have just been better going to the pharmacy. One reason why the old and poor opt for TCM is that it is much cheaper than factory packaged drugs.

Yep, it is really bad at DianChi today as well. Xishan is pretty obscure, even up close when I was on HaiGengDaBa.

Loads of imported beers at Metro.

In the case of Licher Beer, it is different from the Apple case, as Licher don't brew export beers. It is just a case that the buyer, or seller, have made the connection and are trading. It is 100% genuine Licher Beer, brewed to the same standards as back home.

Truck noise is a real killer, especially if they hit potholes and drains. I have found that a white noise generator helps a lot with sleep.
There is a good one here www.simplynoise.com/ personally I use the brown noise, or mix this with an ambient loop (see below).
It takes a bit of getting used to, as it needs to loud enough to drown out other noise, but your brain can tune it out very quickly. White/brown noise is also useful if working on a computer in a noisy cafe.

There are other free downloads, but they are hard to find. Ambient noise loops and soundscapes can be effective, especially rain. Beware of the soundscapes that have thunderstorms.

I have also, in the past, hung a duvet up against a window which helps a lot. I have also seen acoustic foam in one of the decorators markets in Kunming. I think it was YunFang market. That at least means it is on the market. It is black and one side is shaped a bit like egg boxes.

Based on my limited knowledge and experience.

TCM can be very effective for chronic conditions, and as a prophylactic medicine. However, it does not appear to be as effective for acute conditions.
There are clinical trials that support the claims of some TCM medicines. But for most medicines, there is no supportive data.
TCM antibiotics do not seem to be effective, however anti-virals do seem to be more effective.

TCM doctors are often very old. Their medical knowledge is often not up to date. This means that they can prescribe the wrong medicine, even in the big TCM hospitals. E.G. Patients who need to lower the heart rate using beta-blockers can be given 'good for the heart' meds that stimulate heart rate.
It must be remembered that all medicines affect the body's functions and systems. TCM is not just an herbal tea. Self prescribing is not wise, but many locals do it. I would not.

Many Chinese under 40 are relying on modern pharmaceuticals now, especially those with a bit of money. The majority of those who use TCM are the older and less well off. This is not just a status or modernity thing, we are in a land of people who are obsessed with medicine. We can only speculate why.

Regarding alternative treatments. Only a few have proven to be beneficial in clinical trials. These are the treatments that are licenced back home. Some of the others seem to be based on old wives tales, and pseudo-science. Wax straws may be good for cleaning out your ears, but some of the other claims are, well...

The medical profession, generally, is black. TCM hospitals are no different, in fact they can be worse. A specific problem for TCM hospitals is that they are not attracting the next generation of paying customers. A young family member we know was told that an older family was at imminent risk of sudden heart failure, and must be kept in hospital, for tests etc. They would sign out at severe risk, this put huge pressure on an adolescent. The problem was simple arrhythmia (not life threatening). This was at the TCM hospital on DongfangDongLu near BaiTa Lu.

If I were looking for a good TCM practitioner, and have no other referrals here is what I would do. Find a big/busy TCM pharmacy every city has at least one famous established TCM pharmacist. These are usually away from the city centre. As they are busy they will not give you BS to try and sell you anything.

TCM pharmacists are medically trained and can give you advice on non-prescription treatments if appropriate. They can also direct you towards a TCM doctor who can examine you and prescribe medicine. The busy pharmacist will know the busy practitioners, and their specialisations.