Conception VesselCV16

Zhongting 中庭

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

On the front of the chest, on the midline, at the middle of the xiphisternal junction.

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

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

Zhongting — 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.

Zhongting — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Body of sternum · Xiphoid process

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

On this page

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

1Where is Zhongting?

On the front of the chest, on the midline, at the middle of the xiphisternal junction.

Beneath the point

Body of sternum · Xiphoid process

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: on the front midline skin at the level of the xiphisternal junction (between the top of the xiphoid process and the lower end of the body of the sternum).

2How do I find it on my body?

Run a finger down the breastbone.
Find the seam where the body of the breastbone ends and the xiphoid process begins. This is the xiphisternal junction.
Press the middle of that seam.

📖 Words explained

body of sternum: The long middle part of the breastbone. Where it meets the manubrium there is a raised horizontal ridge (sternal angle), and the xiphoid process hangs from its lower end.
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.
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

There is little tissue over the breastbone, so press gently.
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 name means 'central courtyard'. It carries no special category in the classical lists.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Zhongting?

On the front of the chest, on the midline, at the middle of the xiphisternal junction.

How do I find Zhongting?

Run a finger down the breastbone. Find the seam where the body of the breastbone ends and the xiphoid process begins. This is the xiphisternal junction. Press the middle of that seam.

What should I watch out for?

There is little tissue over the breastbone, so press gently. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousJiuwei · CV15 Next →Danzhong · CV17

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 227
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)

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.