Tongrentang Drug Store: Authentic Traditional Chinese Medicine Since 1669

Written by Clementine | Updated September 08,2025

Tongrentang is a time-honored traditional Chinese medicine enterprise which is famous both at home and broad. The meaning of its name is “the unity of hearts and minds, benevolence spreading across the world”.

Since 1723, it became an imperial pharmacy for a total of 188 years because of its superb quality of drugs. Through the development of over 300 years, it got the reputation of “unique formulas, superior materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and remarkable efficacy”, making it the top Chinese medicine enterprise in China. And numerous of Chinese and foreigners seek medical treatment at Tongrentang.

Content Preview

• History of Tongrentang Drug Store
• Experience Tongrentang: Visit a Store Near You
• FAQs about Tongrentang
• Plan Your China Tour with China Xian Tour

History of Tongrentang Drug Store

Tongrentang was established by a family named Le from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Its founder Le Jiaming came to Beijing during the Qing Emperor Yongle’s reign. At first, he made his life by selling common medicine in hutong. In the 38th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, he set up a drug store named Time- honored Store of Zong Ren Tong. Ever since its start, Tongrentang always uphold the tenet of saving no efforts in the complicated producing of Chinese medicine, and always use the proper ingredients no matter how expensive it is. Therefore, Tongrentang’s medicine was well received and trusted both by the imperial courts and the common masses. People praised the store as “The best medicine store in Beijing where sells the finest and most effective medicine.”

From the first year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign, Tongrentang became the special supplier for the imperial dispensary. The emperors, empresses and concubines also take fine medicine produced by Tongrentang. Ever since then, Tongrentang was famous throughout the country. When purchasing raw medicine materials around the country, the store often stressed it was store for Imperial court. On the largest national medicine spice market in Anguo, Hebei Province, everybody had to wait the person from Tongrentang to come, so that they can start the transactions. At that time, Tongrentang’s purchases were always the biggest, and their price offers were always the highest among the other drag stores in me country.

To enhance its status as governmental business, the tenth generation inheritor of Tongrentang bought a fourth-level official title during the reign of Emperor Xianfeng. Around 1949, Tongrentang’s general manager was Yue Songsheng.

Experience Tongrentang: Visit a Store Near You

There are several stores opened in Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu, and here below are the information of the main store of Tongrentang in these cities.

Tongrentang in Beijing:

• Location:

Tongrentang Museum: No. 52, Dongxinglong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Drug Store: No. 24, Dashilan, Qianmen, Xicheng District, Beijing

Daxing Factory: No. 33, Tiangui Street, Biomedical Base, Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, Daxing District, Beijing

• Ticket: free
• opening hours: Museum: 09:00 – 18:00; Drug Store: 24 hours; Factory: Specific Open Day
• time needed: about 1 – 2 hours

The drug store in Beijing is the headquarter of Tongrentang Enterprise, where you can feel the profound historic atmosphere. To learn about the traditional Chinese medicine culture, Tongrentang Museum is the best place during your Beijing tour. Besides, the Daxing factory shows the scene of traditional Chinese medicine production by the modern intelligent equipment.

Tongrentang in Guangzhou:

• Location: Middle Guangzhou Avenue, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City
• Ticket: free
• opening hours: 09:00 – 18:00
• time needed: about 1 – 2 hours

The Imperial Physician Waist Tag Store inside the flagship store on Guangzhou Avenue is very unique. It displays the waist tags of imperial physicians from the Qing Dynasty, the ancient diagnostic and therapeutic tools and medicinal materials dedicated for the royal courts, and records the stories of imperial physicians and the secret recipe. You can also know about famous prescriptions such as “Angong Niuhuang Pills”.

Tongrentang in Chengdu:

• Location: No. 1, Zongfu Road, Jinjiang District, Chengdu City
• Ticket: free
• opening hours: 08:30 – 22:00
• time needed: about 1 – 2 hours

Established in 1740, Chengdu Tongrentang also has a long history. Its annual sales are impressive. One of its feature is the medicinal cuisines, which is listed as the Sichuan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Imperial Cuisines Palace Restaurant on the third floor offers a variety of medicinal cuisines beneficial to health. Some stores also integrates the tradition with modernity, providing unique experience like health-preserving afternoon tea.

FAQs about Tongrentang

What is Tongrentang best known for?

The most famous products include the Angong Niuhuang Pills, Niuhuang Qingxin Pills and Dahuoluo Pills used for first aid and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, Liuwei Dihuang Pills, Yougui Pills, Wuji Baifeng Pills and donkey-hide gelatin series for nourishment and health preservation. There are also some products for daily health maintenance and topical drugs, such as red bean barley tea, bone-strengthening medicinal wine, etc.

How do I choose the right Tongrentang product for me?

It mainly depends on your demands and symptoms. The most important thing is to ask the doctors for professional advice in case that you can not distinguish your conditions clearly. And read the package insert clearly before you take the medicine to make sure it suits your expectations. Or you can buy some health products that are suitable for daily health preservation and care, such as health drinks with herbal formulas, medicinal diet snacks, fragrance products that combine traditional incense formulas, etc.

Are Tongrentang products safe?

Generally, it is safe. As a time-honored brand, the drug safety can be guaranteed thanks to its strict quality control, including the high-quality materials, exquisite workmanship and modern quality control system.

Do I need a prescription to buy Tongrentang medicine?

The traditional Chinese medicines also divide into prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. So it depends on the drugs you buy.

Plan Your China Tour with China Xian Tour

If you are fond of traditional Chinese medicine and want to try or buy some medicines, China Xian Tour is glad to plan a China tour to include the experience for you. Besides, we have devoted in the tourism industry for about 20 years, so we can plan a tour to any city in China and arrange a guide and a driver based on your needs. So do not hesitate to contact us now.