Conception VesselCV12

Zhongwan 中脘

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

On the upper abdomen, on the front midline, 4 B-cun above the centre of the navel.

Front-mu point of the StomachInfluential point of the fu organs (one of the Eight Meeting Points)Meeting point of the Small Intestine, Sanjiao and Stomach channels with the Conception VesselAlso called Taicang (太倉)

See it in 3DRotate the body and peel back the skin to see the bones and muscles beneath.
Open the 3D Acupoint Map →

🖼See it in pictures

Zhongwan — ① Where on the body? — **① Where on the body?**

Zhongwan — Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right — **Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right**
Location and structures come from our 3D model; only the drawing style was refined with AI. Labels are added by us.

Zhongwan — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Linea alba · Rectus abdominis muscle · Rectus abdominis muscle

Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Zhongwan.

On this page

Where is Zhongwan?
How do I find it on my body?
Before you press
How has it been used traditionally?
FAQ

1Where is Zhongwan?

On the upper abdomen, on the front midline, 4 B-cun above the centre of the navel.

Beneath the point

Linea alba · Rectus abdominis muscle · Rectus abdominis muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: on the front midline skin 4 cun (112.88 mm) above the navel. 1 cun above the navel = 28.22 mm (xiphisternal junction to the navel divided into 8 cun). It coincides with the midpoint between the xiphisternal junction and the navel (height difference 0.02 mm).

2How do I find it on my body?

Treat the distance from the xiphisternal junction to the centre of the navel as 8 B-cun. The junction is where the body of the breastbone meets the xiphoid process.
Measure 4 B-cun up from the centre of the navel.
Press on the front midline.

Check · it is halfway between the xiphisternal junction and the centre of the navel.

What is a “cun”?

A cun is a body-scaled unit of length. The precise way is to divide a bone length into equal parts (proportional bone cun); finger widths are a quick estimate.

📖 Words explained

xiphisternal junction: Where the body of the breastbone meets the xiphoid process, just above the pit of the stomach. From here to the center of the navel is taken as 8 cun.
rectus abdominis: The long vertical muscle on each side of the middle of the belly, from the pubic bone to the rib cartilages, that bends the trunk forward. It makes the 'six-pack' blocks when tightened.
linea alba: A white line of tendon down the middle of the belly where the sheets of the belly muscles from both sides meet, from the bottom of the breastbone to the pubic bone. The navel lies on it.
lower abdomen: The belly below the navel, down to the pubic bone.
xiphoid process: The small pointed tip like a sword point at the very bottom of the breastbone, felt just above the pit of the stomach. It is fragile, so do not press hard.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

Do not press during pregnancy.
WHO's acupuncture safety guidelines (1999) note that abdominal points are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (the lower abdomen in the first three months, the upper abdomen from the fourth month).
Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

4How has it been used traditionally?

The Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (vol. 3) classifies it as the Front-mu point of the Stomach (other name Taicang) and a meeting point of several channels with the Conception Vessel — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
The Nanjing (ch. 45) names Taicang as the meeting point of the fu organs.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Zhongwan?

On the upper abdomen, on the front midline, 4 B-cun above the centre of the navel.

How do I find Zhongwan?

Treat the distance from the xiphisternal junction to the centre of the navel as 8 B-cun. The junction is where the body of the breastbone meets the xiphoid process. Measure 4 B-cun up from the centre of the navel. Press on the front midline. it is halfway between the xiphisternal junction and the centre of the navel.

Can I press it during pregnancy?

Do not press during pregnancy.

What should I watch out for?

Do not press during pregnancy. WHO's acupuncture safety guidelines (1999) note that abdominal points are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (the lower abdomen in the first three months, the upper abdomen from the fourth month). Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousJianli · CV11 Next →Shangwan · CV13

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 225
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
Korean point names: KMCRIC standard acupoint database
Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
Classification source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3; Nanjing ch. 45
Safety: WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 20
Safety: CCAOM Clean Needle Technique Manual, 7th ed. (rev. 2024), p. 14

Positions computed from the WHO standard locations (2008) on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS. For reference only — not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. See a clinician if you are unwell.