Tong Ren Tang in Beijing — a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy and clinic since 1699, imperial court supplier for 188 years: history, address, pros and cons for foreign patients.
For 188 years in a row this pharmacy held the status of official supplier to China’s imperial court — the rarest case of a commercial enterprise that survived the change of dynasties and has stayed afloat for more than three centuries. Tong Ren Tang (同仁堂) in Beijing is not a sanatorium or a hospital in the usual sense but a living monument to traditional Chinese medicine, where people still come both for a doctor’s consultation and for medicines made to century-old recipes.
A history three centuries long
It all began back at the end of the 16th century, when Yue Liancai came to Beijing from Zhejiang province and began selling remedies as a peddler. The Tong Ren Tang pharmacy itself on Dazhalan Street was founded in 1699 by his descendant Yue Senyang — in the eighth year of the reign of the Qing dynasty’s Kangxi Emperor. Already in 1702 the founder’s son, Yue Fenmin, became the emperor’s personal court physician, and in 1723 the pharmacy received the official status of imperial court supplier — which it held for the next 188 years, right up to the end of imperial China.
In 1706 the family compiled the “Collection of Family Recipes of the Yue Clan” — a collection of secret formulas for treating the nobility and the imperial family, some of which are still used today. The motto formulated by the founder — “because making medicine is difficult, one must not skimp on labor; because quality is priceless, one must not cut the ingredients” — remains the company’s official principle to this day.
Today
The main historic pharmacy is in its old place — 24 Dazhalan Street, by the Qianmen gate in central Beijing. Today Tong Ren Tang is not only a pharmacy but also a network of clinics where practicing TCM doctors see patients: internal diseases, dermatology, acupuncture, with a specialization in diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. The company runs five production sites producing more than 1,000 preparations in 26 forms, and its products are sold in more than 40 countries — with continuing certification in Europe, Australia and America.
Address of the main historic pharmacy: 24 Dazhalan Street, Qianmen area, Beijing.
Phone: +86-10-6302-2668.
How a visit goes for foreigners
In the company’s branches outside mainland China (Hong Kong, countries of Asia, Europe, North America and Australia) free consultations for local residents are held periodically — check the schedule in the specific region. In Beijing itself, in the clinics at the pharmacy, appointments are made through the general system for all patients, not through a separate program for foreigners with English- or Russian-language support — you should not count on the staff’s spoken English, and for a full consultation with a doctor it is better to come with an interpreter.
Pros and cons
Pros: the most recognizable and historically confirmed traditional Chinese medicine brand in the country — 325+ years of continuous work in the same place; its own production and strict quality control of raw materials, which reduces the risk of counterfeits typical of the herb and supplement market; a wide range of areas — from diabetes to dermatology; historical interest in itself — the pharmacy is in the tourist heart of Beijing, at Qianmen.
Cons: no separate program or call center for Russian-speaking patients — an interpreter is needed; it is rather an outpatient consultation and herbal preparations than a resort sanatorium program with accommodation; there are no official price lists for consultations in the public domain — you need to find out the cost on the spot.
How to make an appointment
There is no separate booking program for foreigners with Russian in the company’s Beijing clinics — appointments are made through the general system, by phone at the main pharmacy +86-10-6302-2668 or directly on the spot, in a live queue or through the registration desk. There will be no ready Russian-speaking coordinator to guide you from the first call to the appointment — which is how Tong Ren Tang differs from specialized clinics like Fuda: it is more logical to come here on your own or with an already hired interpreter than to wait for organized support.
What to clarify when booking: whether a prior appointment with a specific doctor is needed or you can come in the queue; whether the specialist you need (internal diseases, dermatology, acupuncture) works that day; whether there is an employee at the pharmacy who can communicate in English if you have no interpreter with you.
How to pay
The consultation and medicines are paid for on the spot. As everywhere in China, do not count on paying directly with a Russian Visa or Mastercard — bring cash yuan or set up Alipay/WeChat Pay with a Russian bank’s UnionPay card in advance, before the trip.
How to prepare
- Bring an interpreter — English-language support for foreign patients is not declared in the company’s Beijing clinics.
- Formulate your complaints and the history of the problem as concretely as possible in advance — an appointment with a TCM doctor begins with a detailed interview, a tongue examination and pulse diagnostics.
- If you are interested specifically in the signature preparations based on historical recipes, ask the consultant at the pharmacy which series (cardiovascular, women’s health, general wellness) suit your task.
- Plan the visit as part of a broader trip around Beijing — the building on Dazhalan itself has historical value, so allow time to see the Qianmen area.
- Bring cash yuan or set up Alipay/WeChat Pay with a UnionPay card — Russian bank cards do not work directly.
FAQ
Can I simply buy medicines without a doctor’s consultation? Yes, ready-made series preparations are sold in the pharmacy, but for accurate selection for a specific problem a prior consultation with a TCM doctor is recommended — self-treatment with herbal mixtures without diagnostics is less effective and not always safe with concomitant diseases.
Are there Tong Ren Tang branches in other cities of China besides Beijing? Yes, the network is present in different cities of China and abroad (Hong Kong, countries of Asia, Europe, North America, Australia) — but the status and set of services of local branches may differ from the historic head pharmacy in Beijing.
Is Tong Ren Tang suitable for serious diseases? TCM works well as an auxiliary or preventive method for chronic conditions but does not replace treatment of acute and severe diagnoses in a specialized hospital — for serious problems a consultation here supplements, but does not cancel, follow-up with a specialist doctor.
Is there a Russian-speaking coordinator or interpreter from the clinic? No, a separate support program for Russian-speaking patients is not provided here — you need to hire an interpreter yourself, unlike specialized medical tourism clinics.
How do I pay for the visit? With cash yuan or through Alipay/WeChat Pay with a UnionPay card — Russian bank cards are not accepted directly.
Check prices for consultations and medicines directly at the pharmacy before your visit.
Cover photo: Windmemories, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
