Gallbladder MeridianGB20

Fengchi 風池

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Upper back of the neck, in the hollow just under the occipital bone.

Crossing point of the Gallbladder meridian and the Yang Wei vessel

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

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

Fengchi — 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.

Fengchi — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Occipital bone · Sternocleidomastoid muscle · Ascending part of trapezius muscle

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

On this page

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

1Where is Fengchi?

Upper back of the neck, in the hollow just under the occipital bone.

It lies between the upper starting points of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius, level with Fengfu (GV16).

Beneath the point

Occipital bone · Sternocleidomastoid muscle · Ascending part of trapezius muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: skin at the level of Fengfu (GV16), in the middle of the 22.8 mm gap between the lateral edge of the trapezius and the medial edge of the sternocleidomastoid (44.2 mm from the back midline).

2How do I find it on my body?

Find the hollow at the centre just below the skull (Fengfu) and keep that height.
Move outward to the upright groove between the trapezius (inner) and the sternocleidomastoid (outer).
Press the hollow of that groove right under the skull.

📖 Words explained

ascending part of trapezius: The lower part of trapezius. It starts at the middle and lower back bones and slants up to the spine of the shoulder blade, pulling the blade down.
occipital bone: The skull bone at the lower back of the head. You can feel a bump in its middle (external occipital protuberance), and the spinal cord passes through the big hole at its base.
vertebral artery: An artery that climbs through small holes on each side of the neck bones to supply the back of the brain. It is deep in the neck and cannot be felt from outside.
sternocleidomastoid: The thick muscle slanting across the side of the neck. It runs from the mastoid process behind the ear down to the breastbone and collarbone, and stands out as a thick cord when you turn your head to the other side.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

Do not drive the thumbs deep toward the centre of the neck, where the vertebral artery runs.
Do not crank or twist the neck.
Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
For a sudden, splitting headache, call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.
Sudden face drooping, weakness on one side or slurred speech can mean a stroke — call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.

4How has it been used traditionally?

Classified as a crossing point of the Gallbladder meridian and the Yang Wei vessel (Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing) — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
The name is usually translated as 'Wind Pool'.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Fengchi?

Upper back of the neck, in the hollow just under the occipital bone. It lies between the upper starting points of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius, level with Fengfu (GV16).

How do I find Fengchi?

Find the hollow at the centre just below the skull (Fengfu) and keep that height. Move outward to the upright groove between the trapezius (inner) and the sternocleidomastoid (outer). Press the hollow of that groove right under the skull.

What should I watch out for?

Do not drive the thumbs deep toward the centre of the neck, where the vertebral artery runs. Do not crank or twist the neck. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care. For a sudden, splitting headache, call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure. Sudden face drooping, weakness on one side or slurred speech can mean a stroke — call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.

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Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 181
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
Korean anatomical terms and point names: KMCRIC Standard Acupoint DB (Korea)
Classification source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (Huangfu Mi), vol. 3
Traditional use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
Seven points for wind-stroke moxibustion: Lee BH et al. (2009), Journal of Meridian & Acupoint 26(3):103–110 (Korean)

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.