Few businesses on earth have kept the same craft for three and a half centuries. Tongrentang (同仁堂), on Dashilan Street just south of Tiananmen, has been compounding herbal medicine since 1669 — and it still fills prescriptions for Beijingers today. Walk in and you will see pharmacists behind wooden counters weighing dried roots and wrapping formulas in paper, exactly as their predecessors did under the Qing emperors.
Chinese herbal medicine (中药) is the heart of TCM: dried plant, mineral and animal ingredients, combined by a pharmacist into formulas (方剂) matched to a person's constitution. A great pharmacy is judged by the purity of its ingredients and the care taken in preparing them.
- 1669 — founded in the eighth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, by court physician Yue Xianyang.
- 350+ years — the pharmacy has operated continuously, with its name intact, to this day.
- "Treating all equally" — the name Tongren comes from the ancient Book of Changes.
- Still in service — the Dashilan store fills real prescriptions, not just a museum display.
A pharmacy older than most countries
Tongrentang was founded in 1669 by Yue Xianyang, a senior physician at the Qing imperial court, during the eighth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign. In 1702 the business moved to its present address on Dashilan — the same address from which it has traded ever since. For comparison, that is more than a century before the United States declared independence. Guangzhou's Chen Liji pharmacy is even older, founded in 1600, but it was Tongrentang whose name became a byword for quality across northern China.
What the name "Tongren" means
The name is not a family name or a slogan. "Tongren" comes from the Book of Changes (I Ching) and is usually rendered as "harmonious and selfless" or "treating others equally." It is a philosophy Yue prescribed to: a pharmacy should serve every patient the same way, regardless of rank. That egalitarian promise is why the brand still resonates — and why you will see it on everything from classic formulas to modern health products.
The craft: why quality became the motto
What made Tongrentang endure was not luck but a ruthless standard of quality. Its founding motto — still quoted today — runs: "Though the preparation is complicated, we dare not skimp the labour; though the ingredients are costly, we dare not reduce them" (炮制虽繁必不敢省人工，品味虽贵必不敢减物力). In practice this meant sourcing ingredients from their authentic regions and processing herbs with the full, slow, traditional methods even when shortcuts existed. A formula might require a root stir-fried with wine, a mineral ground by hand, or a herb steamed nine times and dried nine times. Tongrentang's reputation rested on doing every step, every time.
350 years in one table
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1669 | Founded by Yue Xianyang, senior physician at the Qing imperial court |
| 1702 | Moved to Dashilan Street — its home ever since |
| Qing dynasty | Built a reputation for uncompromising quality across northern China |
| Today | Still filling prescriptions; a landmark on Beijing's official TCM trail |
What you'll see today
The Dashilan store is a working pharmacy, not a sealed-off relic. Behind the counter, pharmacists still weigh ingredients on brass scales and wrap formulas in paper parcels tied with string. Around the walls, rows of wooden drawers hold hundreds of herbs, each labelled. Ask to see the centuries-old preparation tools and the display of classic patent formulas — Angong Niuhuang Wan and Liuwei Dihuang Wan are among the famous names you may recognise. Because it sits on Qianmen Street, Tongrentang is the natural anchor of Beijing's official TCM tourism trail, alongside the Guangyuyuan TCM Culture Museum (founded 1541) and a herbal experience hall.
Visiting Tongrentang
Tongrentang is free to enter and easy to reach — a short walk from Qianmen Subway Station (Line 2). Mornings are quieter, which makes it easier to watch the pharmacists at work. The most rewarding way to visit is with a guide who can explain what the herbs are and why they are combined the way they are, which is exactly what a TCM walking tour provides. If you only have an afternoon, the Citywalk covers Tongrentang plus the surrounding herbal trail; the half-day and full-day versions add a pulse diagnosis, tea ceremony and medicinal lunch nearby.
Common questions
How old is Tongrentang?
It was founded in 1669, during the Qing dynasty, which makes it over 350 years old. It has traded from the same Dashilan address since 1702.
Is Tongrentang free to visit?
Yes, the Dashilan pharmacy is free to enter and browse. The best experience is with an English-speaking TCM guide who can explain the herbs and formulas.
What does the name 'Tongren' mean?
It comes from the ancient Book of Changes (I Ching) and means 'harmonious and selfless' or 'treating others equally' — the idea that a pharmacy should serve everyone the same way.
Can I buy medicine there?
Yes — it is a working pharmacy, so you can buy herbs and patent formulas. But a TCM walking tour is a cultural experience, not a consultation; if you want a prescription, arrange a proper clinic visit through a licensed practitioner.